Traffic jams on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway irk commuters

Ramban, Mar 26: A massive traffic jam was witnessed on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway between the Seri and Chanderkote sectors of the road on Wednesday due to a single-lane road stretch on the Mehad-Cafeteria stretch of Ramban on Wednesday. Traffic jams were witnessed at various places from Nashri to Banihal, due to which vehicles, trucks, passengers and private cars remained stuck in long queues after brief intervals.

There was chaos on the highway between the Seri, Karool, and Chanderkote sectors of the Highway till late Wednesday afternoon. Official sources said that a few truck breakdowns on the National Highway have caused traffic jams besides single lane road stretch on the Cafeteria-Mehad stretch the upgradation of the highway is hindering the smooth inflow of vehicular traffic on the highway is getting hampered in this sector of the highway which vehicles remained stuck in long queues for some time.

They said light motor vehicles are being diverted through Ramban's old alignment to bypass the Mehad-Cafeteria stretch. However, commuters and drivers complained that the Police and traffic police had failed to clear this traffic jam between the Seri-Ramban-Maitra and Karool sectors of the highway till the afternoon.

Trucks have also developed some mechanical snags in the middle of the road; they have caused bottlenecks on the highway at various places between Magarkote Ramsu and the Banihal sector of the highway. The traffic jam in peak hours has aggravated the situation.

However, traffic officials monitoring regulations in Ramban said that there are no traffic jams and vehicles are plying without any hindrance on the highway. It is pertinent to mention here scores of places were identified as narrow spots from the Banihal to Nashri tunnel that have narrowed the highway, including soil and boulders placed at the brinks of the road that contribute to traffic congestion during the peak hours. Drivers and commuters also said that narrow road stretches at Dalwass, single lane tube at Peeda, and at Mehad-Cafeteria, where the road suffered damages during the rains last month, smooth flow of traffic is being hampered from on sides of the highway from Banihal to Ramban. Due to single-lane road stretches at Dalwass, Mehad-Cafeteria, heavy vehicles are being allowed to ply on alternate days while light-medium vehicles have been allowed to ply on both sides for the last few weeks.