Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Pahalgam MLA Altaf Ahmad Wani on Friday laid the foundation stone for a new road connecting Circuit Road to the picturesque Baisaran Valley, a project billed as a significant step toward strengthening tourism infrastructure in south Kashmir’s premier hill resort.
The road, estimated to cost around ₹6 crore, will provide a permanent vehicular link to Baisaran, long known among visitors for its sprawling meadows framed by pine forests and snow-capped peaks. Until now, access to the valley has depended almost entirely on a pony track, leaving tourists reliant on ponywalas to reach one of Pahalgam’s most photographed destinations.
Wani, addressing the gathering at the ceremony, described the initiative as a historic step that would strengthen connectivity and give a fresh push to tourism in the constituency. He said the new road would make it considerably easier for visitors, including elderly tourists and families with young children, to access the valley without depending solely on pony rides, broadening the destination’s appeal to a wider cross-section of travellers.
At the same time, the legislator moved to reassure the local pony-owning community that their livelihoods would not be disrupted by the new infrastructure. He clarified that the existing pony track to Baisaran will remain fully operational even after the road is completed, ensuring that ponywalas who depend on the route for their income continue to have a stake in the valley’s tourism economy.
Wani framed the project as complementary rather than competitive, saying the road would give tourists an additional option, road access and sightseeing, alongside the traditional pony-riding experience that has long been part of the Baisaran visit. Officials familiar with the project said the dual-access model is intended to spread tourist footfall more evenly through the season while preserving the character of the destination.
Pahalgam has emerged in recent years as one of Kashmir’s most visited hill destinations, drawing both domestic and international tourists to its meadows, rivers and forest trails. Infrastructure upgrades such as the Baisaran road are seen by local authorities as central to sustaining that momentum, easing congestion on existing routes and improving safety for visitors navigating the terrain.
The project is expected to be executed in phases, with officials indicating that improved connectivity to Baisaran will also support ancillary economic activity in the area, including local handicraft stalls, food vendors and horse-riding operators who service the route. Once complete, authorities expect the road to significantly cut travel time to the valley and open it up to greater year-round footfall.
