Srinagar-Jammu National Highway witnesses traffic congestion

Ramban, Mar 6: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which remained open for one-way traffic of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles for Kashmir, witnessed traffic congestion at Dalwass on Wednesday.

“Amid one-way traffic norms, massive traffic congestion was witnessed and movement of traffic remained slow due to the narrow carriageway at the mud and landslide-affected Dalwass area of Nashri near the Chenani-Nashri tunnel and due to the breakdown of two heavy vehicles on Wednesday,” officials said.

Due to the single-lane carriageway at several places, especially at Dalwass between Nashri and Banihal sector of the highway, vehicles ply on alternate days between the two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.

Officials said that due to the damaged portion of the single-lane road at Dalwass, heavy vehicles released from Qazigund-Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon were not cleared therefore massive traffic congestion was witnessed between the Chenani-Ramban sector of the highway.

“Due to traffic snarls witnessed between Chenani and Ramban and single-lane road stretch at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, vehicular movement remained slow on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway throughout the day,” they said.

The officials monitoring the regulation of traffic on the National Highway in Ramban said, “Movement of vehicles was impacted by single-lanes at Hingni, Gangroo, Kishtwari Pathar and poor road surface conditions at several places between Nashri and Banihal sectors on the highway.”

Due to heavy rains last week, the highway passing through Ramban district had suffered damages at several places. Landslides were cleared but due to slush and single-lane carriageways in Dalwass area, vehicular traffic remained disrupted during the last week.

Vehicle drivers and commuters were facing problems while crossing this stretch.

“Amid congestion, the highway remained open and hundreds of LMVs and heavy vehicles crossed the Nashri-Banihal tunnels for their destinations in Kashmir on Wednesday. Traffic is being cleared in a regulated manner at Dalwass,” traffic officials monitoring regulations at Dalwass informed.

Meanwhile, the J&K Traffic Police Department issued a fresh advisory for Thursday stating that subject to fair weather and road conditions, only one-way traffic would be allowed to ply from Qazigund-Kashmir towards Jammu.

The officials said, “Cut-off timings for Jammu-bound LMVs have been fixed from 6 am to 11 am from Qazigund-Kashmir thereafter heavy vehicles would be managed in a regulated manner on Thursday.”