SRINAGAR : The Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, reopened this morning for one-way traffic after remaining closed yesterday. Traffic on the highway was resumed after the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the road, carried out urgent and necessary work, a traffic police official told.
However, he said only one-way traffic will continue to ply from Jammu to Sringar till further orders. This, he said was necessary to avoid traffic jam or accidents as the road is still very narrow at some places where the road has been damaged during winter due to soil erosion and landslides.
It was decided to allow traffic from Jammu to Srinagar, he said, adding that hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers and essentials for the valley, left winter capital this morning.
He said traffic will ply from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow on the highway subject to road and weather conditions. Only one-way traffic was allowed on the highway for about four months due to damage caused to the road at several places, particularly between Ramban and Ramsu area due to soil erosion and landslides.
Traffic was being allowed on alternate days on the highway, the only road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country. During this winter, the highway remained frequently closed resulting in shortage of essentials, particularly fresh vegetables in the valley, leading to price rise.
Drivers and those travelling on the highway said, the road has been totally damaged at most of the places between Ramban and Ramsu making the travel very difficult. However, keeping in view the tourist season and annual Amarnath yatra, commencing from July 2, the BRO has decided to repair the road to make it two way as there were some spot where only one vehicle could pass.
Governor N N Vohra and Chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed have also taken up the matter of highway with Director General of BRO besides Centre while Jammu and Kashmir High Court has also directed government to provide good roads, including Srinagar-Jammu highway, to people. Traffic official said the historic Mughal road was also through for one-way traffic and vehicles will ply from Shopian in the south Kashmir to Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region today.
The road remained closed for more than five winter months due to accumulation of more than ten to 15 feet of snow. He said the Srinagar-Leh national highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir, was also through for both ways. (agencies)
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