Srinagar-Jammu National Highway open, vehicular movement slow

Ramban, Apr 8: The 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 Tuesday..

However, traffic movement was disrupted on several occasions due to single lane and damaged road stretches at Dalwass and on the Mehar-Cafeteria area of Ramban besides breakdown of a loaded truck in Dalwass. Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police, National Highway Ramban, Rohit Baskotra said a loaded truck developed some mechanical snag in the middle of the road at Dalwass due to a single lane road.

The traffic congestion on both sides of National Highway has been a regular feature. SSP said due to single lane road stretches at Dalwass traffic is being cleared in a regulated manner at Dalwass.

Traffic congestion was also witnessed in the Mehad Cafeteria area of Ramban due to single lane and damaged road stretch. Officials said due to single lane road stretches traffic is being cleared on a one-way basis on Mehad Cafeteria stretch also. Due to one way road stretch at Dalwass and on Mehar-Cafeteria, traffic congestion witnessed at both the places and vehicles remained stranded after intervals. Traffic officials said despite single lane road stretches at Dalwass and on Mehar-Cafeteria, hundreds of light medium heavy passenger vehicles plied on either side towards Srinagar and Jammu till late Tuesday evening. They said heavy vehicles are heading towards Jammu although at a slow pace on National Highway 44. Traffic authorities said National Highway 44 is open for two-way traffic of light medium passenger vehicles and one way traffic of heavy vehicles. Meanwhile locals, drivers have appealed to the government, administration to intervene into the matter and direct National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Project Installation Unit Ramban to repair the damaged road stretches at Dalwass and on Mehar-Cafeteria so that the commuters, vehicle operators can take siege of relief from routine traffic congestion at Dalwass and on Mehar-Cafeteria stretch of Ramban.

A group of truck drivers stuck in traffic congestion in Ramban informed that due to one- way road stretch on Mehad Cafeteria area, HMVs are being allowed to ply on alternate days between Udhampur and Qazigund. They said due to one way traffic of Heavy vehicles we are at a loss. Till filing of this report traffic congestion is prevalent at both Dalwass and on Mehad Cafeteria stretch of Ramban.