Traffic to remain suspended on Sgr-Jmu NH for repairs today

Ramban, June 3:  Srinagar Jammu National Highway (NH-44) was closed for movement of every type of traffic, for road repair works at several places between Nashri and Banihal in Ramban district on Monday evening.

The officials at Traffic Control Unit (TCU), Ramban said, “Entire Jammu-bound traffic was halted at 6 pm at Qazigund in Kashmir. Similarly, all Srinagar-bound traffic was stopped at Nagrota in Jammu at 5 pm and at 6 pm at Udhampur.”

“Traffic will remain suspended till Wednesday or till the restoration work is completed between Nashri and Banihal in Ramban district. However, road traffic between Udhampur and Qazigund is being cleared,” they added.

Traffic authorities said, “The traffic on both sides was suspended on the recommendations of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).”

“NHAI has intimated that urgent repair or maintenance has to be carried out on NH-44 between Ramban and Banihal, during the intervening night of June 3 and 4, 2024. For this purpose, all types of vehicular movement will remain suspended,” they added.

They advised commuters and vehicle operators to avoid journeys on NH-44 till the road repair work was completed.

Officials said, “NH-44 has suffered extensive damage during the winter season due to rain at many places and four-lane construction sites, thus creating bottlenecks between Nashri and Banihal sectors of highway. These are hindering the smooth flow of traffic.”

Earlier on Thursday, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting of officers regarding the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra and fruit season and set the June 10 deadline for streamlining the riding surface and ensuring two-way traffic movement on the Srinagar Jammu National Highway.

The Chief Secretary had taken a detailed appraisal of nearly two dozen spots on this road where commuters were facing inconvenience in their journey.

He had impressed upon the regional director of NHAI, Jammu to take all possible measures to improve the riding surface of the road and ensure two-way traffic on it by June 10.

Following the directions on May 31, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary, along with SSP Traffic NHW, Rohit Baskotra and ADC Varunjeet Singh Charak inspected the measures being undertaken by construction agencies on National Highway-44 to ensure smooth traffic flow from Nashri to Banihal, especially in preparation for the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2024, tourist and fruit season.

The Deputy Commissioner was also accompanied by Project Director NHAI, PIU, Ramban, Parshotam Kumar, and various other senior officers. They visited several critical spots, including sliding areas along NH-44 from Nashri to Banihal, and directed NHAI authorities and other concerned to ensure smooth double-lane traffic flow by improving road surface and effective traffic management.