Srinagar-Jammu NH open for traffic

Ramban, May 24: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open for two-way traffic of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and one-way traffic of heavy vehicles for Kashmir on Friday, traffic authorities said.

They said that subject to fair weather and good road conditions, LMVs, including passenger vehicles, would be allowed to ply on both sides of the highway on Saturday.

“Heavy vehicles would be allowed to ply towards Jammu from Qazigund in Kashmir on Saturday,” they added.

However, traffic authorities once again advised passenger vehicle operators and commuters not to undertake journeys on the highway during night hours due to apprehensions of shooting stones between Ramban and Banihal. They advised road users to prefer journeys during the daytime only.

Earlier, the officials, monitoring the regulation of traffic in Ramban, said that the highway remained open but the traffic movement remained slow due to foot movement of nomads and their livestock; the breakdown of ten heavy vehicles; single lane carriageway at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, Panthial, Nachlana, Gangroo, Shalgari, Kishtwari-Pathar and poor road surface conditions at many places between Nashri-Banihal sectors in Ramban district.

They said, “Despite slow traffic movement, hundreds of LMVs crossed the Nashri-Banihal sector for their respective destinations without any disruption till late this evening. Heavy load carriers are still heading towards Kashmir in a regulated manner.”

Traffic officials advised drivers to remain vigilant, especially while driving during night hours due to the foot-movement of nomads and due to apprehension of shooting stones between the Ramban and Banihal sectors of the highway.