Srinagar-Jammu NH open

Ramban, Oct 8: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remained open for one-way traffic of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) towards Jammu and one-way movement of heavy vehicles towards Kashmir on Wednesday.

Traffic authorities said vehicular movement remained slow due to single-lane stretches and poor road conditions at Tharad, Udhampur, Nashri, Dalwass, and between Maroog and Kishtwari Pattar.

The movement of nomadic families with their livestock towards Jammu also added to the congestion along the highway.

Officials monitoring traffic regulation in Ramban said that after clearing Jammu-bound heavy vehicles, Srinagar-bound heavy vehicles carrying essential supplies were allowed to move from Jakhani, Udhampur.

They said that hundreds of passenger LMVs from Kashmir, Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts crossed the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel towards Jammu.

Passenger LMVs heading towards Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban from Nagrota, Jammu, were permitted to move between 7 am and 10 am.

Earlier, following heavy rains that triggered mudslides and shooting stones at several places between Udhampur and Banihal sectors on Tuesday, traffic on the highway remained suspended for around 11 hours.

Meanwhile, traffic authorities advised commuters and vehicle operators to avoid travelling against the official traffic plan in view of possible congestion caused by the narrow carriageway between Tharad-Balli Nullah and Maroog-Kishtwari Pattar stretches.

Commuters have also been urged to maintain lane discipline, avoid overtaking and wrong-lane driving, and refrain from unnecessary travel due to the ongoing movement of nomadic families with livestock towards Jammu.

Officials at the Traffic Control Unit Ramban late Wednesday evening said that the highway is open for one-way traffic of heavy vehicles and one way traffic of LMVs. However, they advised commuters and vehicle operators not to undertake journeys on the highway without confirming the latest status of the road from Traffic Control Units in Srinagar, Jammu, Udhampur, and Ramban and on the X handle and Facebook page of Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police Department on Thursday morning.