Sgr-Jmu NH open; witnesses traffic congestion

Ramban, Feb 23: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway Friday remained open for vehicular traffic yet witnessed congestion due to multiple bottlenecks at several places from Nashri to Ramban.

The authorities said that vehicles were plying on the highway but the pace of traffic was slow at Dalwass, the Mehar and Ramsu sector due to a single lane; poor surface at many places and the breakdown of five heavy vehicles.

“Commuters were advised to follow lane discipline as there was a single lane at Dalwass, Cafeteria-Mehar and Gangroo besides poor surface condition of the road at many places between Nashri and Banihal tunnels. Vehicle operators were asked to drive with caution as there was apprehension of shooting stones between Ramban and Banihal,” they said.

A massive traffic jam was witnessed on the highway at Dalwass due to multiple bottlenecks, causing congestion at several places on the road from Nashri to Ramban.

The highway witnessed traffic snarls as soon as it was fully thrown open after remaining blocked for around four days, following heavy rains and landslides between Nashri and Banihal.

After the improvement in weather, the highway was partially restored on Wednesday afternoon.

But it remained open for a brief period as a fresh landslide blocked the road at the Hingni and Kishtwari Pathar areas between Ramban and Banihal.

It was again partially restored at around 4 pm on Thursday but only for stranded vehicles between Nashri and Banihal.

The traffic authorities said, “The highway was reopened for traffic on Friday morning after having remained closed for four days due to multiple landslides caused due to heavy rains and snowfall.”

“Vehicles were plying on the highway but the movement of traffic was slow due to single lanes and poor surface conditions at several places between Nashri and Banihal tunnels. Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and medium passenger vehicles were allowed from both sides while the heavy vehicles were being allowed in a regulated manner to ensure smooth movement of vehicles,” they said.

The highway suffered damages thus leaving narrow stretches at Dalwass, Cafeteria-Mehar, Hingni  Kishtwari Pathar, Gangroo between Nashri-Banihal sectors.

Although the highway was open, the traffic police asked citizens to strictly follow lane discipline and one-way norms at single-lane road stretches at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, Magarkote, Hingni, Nachlana, Kishtwari Pathar and other places on the highway.

Drivers and commuters said that due to single-lane road stretches at Dalwass, Mehar, Cafeteria, Hingni and Kishtwari Pathar, they remained stuck in traffic jams that arose out of bottlenecks on the highway from Banihal to Ramban.

The vehicles were moving slowly on the highway due to traffic congestion at single-lane road stretches between Nashri and Banihal sectors on the highway.

Meanwhile, the Traffic Department issued a fresh advisory for Saturday stating that subject to fair weather and good road conditions, LMVs would be allowed from both sides of the highway.

“However, heavy vehicles will be managed in a regulated manner as there’s single lane traffic at Dalwass, Cafeteria-Mehar, Gangroo and poor surface condition of the road at many places between Nashri and Banihal Tunnel. Because of the single road at these places, the cut-off timing for LMVs has been fixed from 6 am to 2 pm from Nagrota (Jammu) and from Jakhani (Udhampur) it will be 7 am to 3 pm, on Saturday,” the advisory said. “Similarly, the cut-off timing for Jammu-bound LMVs from Qazigund will be 8 am to 3 pm. No vehicle shall be allowed after cut-off timing.”