Srinagar-Jammu NH open for 2-way traffic
Ramban/ Rajouri, Jan 6: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open for two-way traffic, but the Kishtwar-Sinthan Top-Anantnag National Highway and Mughal Road remained closed on Tuesday, officials said.
Traffic authorities said that, subject to fair weather and satisfactory road conditions, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles would be permitted to travel in both directions on Wednesday.
LMVs and heavy vehicles were permitted throughout Tuesday; however, traffic movement remained slow at several locations due to single-lane stretches and vehicle breakdowns.
Congestion was reported at Balinalla, Dewal, Nashri-Dalwas, and along the Marog-Kishtwari Pather stretch.
Engineers from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said road repair and construction work were underway at multiple locations between the Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal sectors.
Authorities advised the travellers to check the latest traffic updates from Traffic Control Units (TCUs) at Srinagar, Ramban, and Jammu, and follow official advisories issued by the J&K Traffic Police on social media before starting their journey.
Passengers were urged to prefer daytime travel and avoid night journeys, especially on vulnerable stretches.
Officials cautioned that the movement of heavy vehicles between the Nashri and Navyug tunnels during night hours could lead to inconvenience and further congestion.
Drivers were also advised to maintain lane discipline and avoid overtaking and wrong-lane driving to prevent traffic jams and accidents.
Meanwhile, the Kishtwar-Sinthan Top-Anantnag National Highway remained closed due to heavy snowfall along the route.
Authorities said restoration work would begin once weather conditions improve.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, National Highway, Ramban, Raja Adil Hamid told Greater Kashmir that Dense Bitumen Macadam (DBM) work and traffic regulation were being carried out simultaneously at Digdol on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Mughal Road, connecting Rajouri and Poonch districts of the Pir Panjal region with Shopian district of south Kashmir, continued to remain closed for the second consecutive day due to snow accumulation along its stretch.
Officials said that vehicular movement had been suspended as snow deposition at higher reaches had rendered the road unsafe for traffic.
The closure has caused inconvenience to commuters who rely on the Mughal Road as an alternate route between the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) launched aggressive snow clearance operations to restore connectivity at the earliest.
Machines and manpower have been pressed into service, and efforts are underway to clear the accumulated snow and reopen the road, subject to improvement in weather conditions.
Authorities have advised commuters to avoid travel on the Mughal Road till further notice and follow official advisories for updates on road status.
