Srinagar-Jammu National Highway open for traffic, vehicular movement slow

Ramban, Apr 6: Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open for two-way traffic of light medium passenger vehicles and one-way traffic of heavy vehicles for Jammu on Sunday. However, free flow of traffic movement was disrupted during the day due to single lane and damaged roads in the Mehar-Cafeteria area of Ramban. Free flow of vehicular traffic on the arterial link connecting valley Kashmir with the rest of the country, Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was disrupted due to the breakdown of a few heavy vehicles, single lane and damaged road stretch on Mehar-Cafeteria stretch of Ramban.

Officials said due to a single lane road on Mehar-Cafeteria where only one vehicle can pass at a time, traffic is being regulated on a one-way basis. They said due to one way road stretch remained stranded for some time. Traffic officials said that National Highway 44 remained open for two-way traffic of light medium vehicles and one –way traffic of heavy vehicles for Jammu.

They said due to single-lane road stretches at Dalwass and on Mehad –Cafeteria road stretch of Ramban slow traffic movement was observed on National Highway. They said traffic remained slow due to single-lane and poor road surface conditions at Dalwas, Peeda , Cafeteria-Mehad, and between Maroog and Kishtwari Pathar and at other locations.

Traffic officials monitoring the regulation of traffic at Mehad- Cafeteria area informed that hundreds of vehicles crossed the Chenani-Nashri and Banihal-Qazigund tunnels till late this evening. They said vehicles are being cleared on a one-way basis at Mehad - Cafeteria. Following heavy rains last month multiple landslides, mud, slush and rocks damaged the National Highway at several places between Nashri and Banihal, road stretches at various locations yet not repaired due to which free flow of traffic is being hampered at on Mehad-Cafeteria area of Ramban and at other locations. The area witnessed landslides and blocking of the National Highway frequently during rains at Dalwass and Mehad-Cafeteria stretch of National Highway.

Meanwhile, the traffic authorities said that subject to fair weather and good road conditions light medium vehicles would be allowed to ply on either side while heavy vehicles would be allowed towards Kashmir from Jammu. They advised vehicle operators, and commuters to follow lane discipline as overtaking will lead to congestion. They further advised not to ply against the advisory traffic plan due to single-lane road issues at many places between Nashri and Banihal.