After necessary repairs, Srinagar-Jammu NH reopened for 1-way traffic

Ramban, Apr 28: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway reopened for one-way traffic after concerned sub-contractor companies of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) completed scheduled road repair works on Monday morning.  A Traffic Police official at Traffic Control Unit, National Highway, Ramban informed that one-way traffic on NH44 was restored after the concerned road maintenance agency NHAI, completed the scheduled road repair and landslide clearance operations at several locations between Nashri and Banihal sectors of National Highway.

Officials said private cars, passenger light medium and heavy vehicles carrying essential supplies for Kashmir were allowed to move towards their destination.

Earlier on the recommendation of Project Director NHAI, Project Installation Unit Ramban, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary had accorded 24 hours permission to NHAI from Sunday 8am to Monday 8am, for widening of damaged road and for undertaking necessary repairs.

For this purpose both side traffic had remained suspended for 24 hours between Chenani - Nashri and Banihal - Qazigund tunnels. Following torrential rains on  April 19 and 20 , heavy landslides had occurred at around one dozen places between Nashri and Banihal on Srinagar Jammu National Highway.

An Engineer of NHAI said that National Highway passing through Ramban district has suffered extensive damages, landslide and debris is still accumulated on the road. However, landslide clearance operation is still going on at Karool, Mehad, Cafeteria, Ramban, Chamba, Seri, Kelamorh, Marog, Battery Chasma and several other places. He said efforts are on to clear the accumulated landslide. Traffic officials monitoring regulation of traffic in Ramban late Monday evening informed that Srinagar bound traffic was heading towards Kashmir at slow pace due to single-lane road stretches at several places, on foot movement of nomads with their livestock.

Following damages caused by the torrential rains recently vehicular traffic is being allowed to ply between the two capital cities Srinagar and Jammu on alternate days. Meanwhile, a traffic police officer informed that, subject to fair weather and good road conditions, National Highway 44, would remain open for one way traffic for Jammu on Tuesday.