Kaghan-Naran Road reopens for tourists

BALAKOT:

The Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) on Saturday opened the Kaghan Highway for motorists to travel to Naran after a seven-month closure.

The road remained suspended for traffic owing to snowfall and glacier melting.

After the snow clearance operations, the tourists will be able to visit the scenic beauty of Naran by using the Naran Road. According to the KDA spokesperson Moazam Ali, the Naran Road is fully operational for tourists from Saturday morning. Furthermore, the administration has also scheduled cleaning operations for the Saiful Malook Road starting on Sunday.

Additionally, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has mobilised machinery to clear and open the Babusar Top Road from Naran, a task anticipated to require seven to eight days for completion. The spokesperson also mentioned that hotels in Naran have commenced reopening for tourists. The reopening of hotels has signalled the resumption of regular tourism activities in Naran, he said, adding tourists are urged to exercise caution during their travels and prioritise responsible tourism practices. Meanwhile, owners and employees of hotels in Naran have got a sigh of relief after the reopening of the Naran Road as thousands of visitors are expected to visit the Kaghan Valley. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2024.