Sgr-Jmu NH open for one-way traffic

Ramban, Oct 2: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open for scheduled one-way traffic on Thursday, with passenger Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) allowed to move towards Jammu and heavy vehicles towards Kashmir.

However, traffic authorities said that the movement of the vehicles along the highway was slow due to single-lane and undulating road stretches at Tharad in Udhampur, as well as between Nashri-Dalwass and Maroog-Kishtwari Pattar.

They said that the breakdown of a few heavy vehicles and the on-foot movement of nomadic families with livestock towards Jammu further hampered the flow of traffic.

Despite the difficulties, hundreds of trucks carrying essential supplies and other commodities for Kashmir crossed the Banihal-Qazigund tunnel.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of LMV passenger vehicles from Srinagar, Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban managed to cross Tharad, though at a slow pace.

Officials said that the highway was open for one-way traffic of LMV passenger vehicles on one side and heavy vehicles on the other.

They said that since September, LMVs and heavy vehicles have been allowed to ply on alternate days.

Meanwhile, authorities have advised commuters not to undertake journeys against traffic advisories, warning of possible congestion between the Udhampur and Banihal sectors.

Travellers have been urged to confirm the latest status of the road from Traffic Control Units in Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, and Ramban, or through the official social media handles of the J&K Traffic Police.