SRINAGAR : Two-way traffic has been resumed on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, from today as only one-way traffic was being allowed for the past five months due to major damage caused to road at several places following landslides and soil erosion.
The highway remained closed frequently, particularly during February, March and April months due to landslides and soil erosion, resulting in acute shortage of essentials, particularly fresh vegetables, leading to price rise.
A traffic police official told UNI that it was decided to allow two-way traffic on the highway from today. However, both heavy and light vehicles will ply from Jammu to Srinagar while only light vehicles will be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu, he said.
But he said no heavy vehicle will be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu to avoid traffic jams and accidents. One-way traffic was introduced on the highway for the past five months after landslides and soil erosion damaged road at several places, particularly in Ramban and Ramsu area.
This was done to avoid traffic jams and accidents as the road was very narrow at some places where only one-vehicle could pass, he said adding that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway later put into service sophisticated machines and men to clear all hurdles and repair the damaged portion and put through it for both ways.
The repair work was further intensified keeping in view the annual Amarnath yatra, commencing from July 2 and ensuing tourist season, when lakhs of tourists are expected to visit the valley.
However, only one-way traffic will continue to ply on historic Mughal road, linking the Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region with Shopian in south Kashmir. He said traffic will ply from Srinagar to Jammu on the road today. The historic road reopened last month after remaining closed for five months due to heavy snowfall. However, only one-way traffic was resumed as the road is very narrow at some place because of huge walls of snow on both sides.
He said the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir, remained open for both ways. However, vehicles are plying on rotation at Zojila pass.
In the morning vehicles will pass the Zojila from Gumri Ladakh to Sonamarg Kashmir from 0400 hrs to 1100 hrs. Vehicles from Kashmir will have to cross Zojila from 1300 hrs onwards. (AGENCIES)
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