Traffic to remain suspended on Sgr-Jmu NH today

Ramban/ Ganderbal, Feb 5: The vehicular traffic on the Srinagar Jammu National Highway on Tuesday will remain suspended for 24 hours for the widening of single-lane road stretches between the Chenani-Nashri and Banihal-Qazigund tunnels.

“On the recommendations of authorities, the vehicular traffic will remain suspended for 24 hours from 8 am on Tuesday up to 8 am on Wednesday for the widening of single-lane road stretches at Dalwass and Kishtwari-Pather- Sherbibi between Chenani-Nashri and Banihal-Qazigund tunnels,” officials said.

They said, “District Magistrate Ramban issued an order after his office received a communication from Project Director NHAI, PIU Ramban seeking a haltage of traffic for widening the road at Kishtwari Pathar and Dalwass on NH-44.”

“Based on the recommendation of Project Director, NHAI, PIU Ramban vide No NHAI/PIU- Ramban/2023-24/11019/9822 dated February 5, 2024, to ensure the safety and well-being of the general populace, travellers and drivers, a sanction is hereby granted in favour of NHAI, PIU Ramban, for taking a 24-hour traffic haltage from 8 am, Tuesday till 8 am, Wednesday for widening of the road at Kishtwari-Pathar and Dalwass on NH-44,” the order read.

In strict adherence to the conditions outlined in the communication of the Project Director NHAI, PIU Ramban, Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police, National Highway Ramban has been asked to implement the orders in letter and spirit. Official sources said the National Highway suffered damages at several places including Kishtwari-Pather, Sherbibi, Mehar-Cafeteria and Dalwass due to recent snow and rain.

Meanwhile, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Monday started the snow clearance work on the Zojila Pass of the Srinagar-Leh National Highway connecting Ladakh with Jammu and Kashmir.

An official said that the snow clearance operation was started with the improvement in weather conditions.

BRP’s Project Beacon is responsible for maintenance and clearance of the road up to zero point near Zojilla from the Sonamarg side, while the BRO’s Project Vijayak clears the road from the Drass side.

An official of Project Beacon said that the snow clearance had been started and they were hopeful that within the next few days, the road would be connected.

He said that there were multiple avalanches at various places where the height of the snow on the road was above 15 feet. The official said that the snow clearance operation on the 12-km Gaganger-Sonamrag stretch of the Srinagar-Leh National Highway had been completed.

The 122 RCC of the BRO had started snow clearance to resume traffic on the Srinagar-Sonamarg road.

The road was closed after the snowfall on Saturday.

“The snow clearance work has been completed from the Gagengar side towards Sonamarg. Several snow cutter machines and dozers have been pressed into work,” a BRO official said.

By M M Parvaiz and Irfan Raina