SRINAGAR : Heavy vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims will ply from both sides on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway everyday, a traffic police official said here today.
However, other heavy vehicles, including buses and trucks will continue to ply on alternate days from Srinagar and Jammu on the highway, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, he told.
Light vehicles are plying from both sides as per earlier decision, he said.
The official said the decision to allow heavy vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims from both sides was taken at a high-level meeting in the interest of yatris.
As per schedule today, heavy vehicles were to ply from Srinagar to Jammu only. However, because of Amarnath yatra, heavy vehicles, particularly buses, carrying pilgrims also, left Jammu this morning for Nunwan Pahalgam and Baltal base camps.
The highway frequently remained closed during winter this time because of damage to road at several places, particularly at Udhampur, Penthal, Ramban and Ramsu due to soil erosion and landslides.
Later, it was decided to allow only one-way traffic on the highway in January this year. However, after the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) repair the road, two way traffic for only light vehicles was allowed to operate last month. However, heavy vehicles were to ply on alternate days. (AGENCIES)
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