Sgr-Jmu NH witnesses traffic snarls

Ramban, Apr 23:  The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open for two-way traffic of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles, however, the chaos prevailed due to single-lane stretches and poor traffic regulations on Tuesday.

The commuters and drivers alleged that the Traffic Police failed to clear congestion and streamline the traffic for long durations, especially at Dalwass and various other places between Ramsu and Banihal sectors.

“The disruption of vehicular traffic has become a routine affair on the highway, not a single day passes without road blockades or traffic jams between the Nashri and Banihal sectors of the road. The traffic jam in peak hours further aggravates the situation. The traffic snarls are there due to poor regulations and monitoring by the Traffic Police in Ramban,” a retired Police officer M Y Bhat told Greater Kashmir.

He said there was complete chaos and confusion on the highway due to mismanagement and poor regulation of the two-way traffic.

“On Tuesday, while travelling from Jammu to Srinagar in a private car, I remained stuck in long queues at Nashri, Dalwass, Mehar, Hingni, Ramsu, Kishtwari-Pathar and many other places between Nashri and Banihal,” Bhat said. “It took us 11 hours to reach Srinagar from Jammu, due to poor traffic regulations on the highway.”

Traffic jams were witnessed at various places from Nashri-Ramsu to Banihal due to which trucks and passenger and private cars remained stuck in serpentine queues for long durations.

Scores of places have been identified as “bottlenecks” from Nashri to Banihal tunnels that have choked the highway.

Soil and boulders placed along the roadside contribute to traffic congestion during peak hours.

Drivers and commuters also complained that bottlenecks, where road construction work was going on, hampered the smooth flow of traffic from both sides of the highway.

On Monday, scores of trucks and other passenger vehicles remained stuck at various places from Nashri to Peerah and from Banihal to Ramsu in traffic jams at different intervals of time.

The breakdown of a truck in the middle of the road also hampered traffic between Nashri and Banihal.

Meanwhile, officials at the Traffic Control Unit (TCU), Ramban, late Tuesday evening, said, “The highway is open for two-way traffic, however, the movement of traffic between Nashri and Banihal is slow.”