Umaisar Gull Ganie
Qazigund, Aug 20 : The Titanic Viewpoint, located near Lower Munda in Qazigund, around two kilometres from the historic Jawahar Tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, is fast losing its charm amid alleged official apathy and lack of maintenance.
Once a popular stopping point for travellers entering the Kashmir Valley, the viewpoint offers scenic views of the valley, lush green mountains and surrounding landscapes. The place also has a cinematic connection, as the popular song “Aadmi Musafir Hai” from the 1977 Bollywood film Apnapan, sung by Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, was filmed in the area around Titanic Point.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the opening of the 8.5-km Banihal-Qazigund Road Tunnel in 2021 has left the Titanic Viewpoint in a state of neglect, with locals alleging that little attention is being paid to the area. Since most of the traffic now uses the new tunnel, the flow of vehicles through the historic Jawahar Tunnel has reduced. Fuel-laden tankers and trucks carrying gas cylinders and other hazardous materials use the Jawahar Tunnel. Some vehicles from nearby villages and towns also use the Jawahar Tunnel.
The decline in traffic has also affected scores of shopkeepers and kiosk owners who had been earning their livelihood along the old highway route from Lower Munda to Banihal.
Mohammad Shafi, Trade President Qazigund, told KNO that the reduced traffic has badly affected businesses operating along the old route. “Earlier, thousands of travellers would stop here, and the shops and roadside businesses remained busy. After the opening of the new tunnel, the traffic has reduced drastically, affecting the livelihood of local traders. If the Jawahar Tunnel and surrounding areas are developed as tourist attractions, it can revive local businesses and create employment opportunities,” he said.
Locals said they have pinned their hopes on plans to beautify the Jawahar Tunnel, B-Top (old Cart Road) and surrounding areas and develop them as tourism destinations.
Tariq Ahmad Wani, a local, said Titanic Viewpoint has both tourism and historical value. “This is one of the first places where travellers get a beautiful glimpse of Kashmir after crossing the Jawahar Tunnel. The place is naturally beautiful and also has a connection with the old Bollywood film Apnapan. Unfortunately, today there is hardly any proper maintenance, cleanliness or basic facilities here,” he said.
According to locals, the presence of livestock and litter has further deteriorated the condition of the viewpoint. They said the spot, which once attracted travellers who would stop to enjoy the landscape, now presents scenes of neglect.
Ghulam Rasool, a tanker driver, said the Titanic Viewpoint is more than just a roadside stop. “Titanic Viewpoint is a reminder of the first encounter with the beautiful scenery of Kashmir for many travellers. The authorities should restore its historical, natural and tourism importance so that visitors see the beauty of the Valley rather than neglect,” he said.
He said preserving such historical and natural sites could help diversify tourism beyond traditional destinations and generate livelihood opportunities for communities along the old highway—(KNO)
