Pulwama, Apr 21: The historic Mughal Road restored Kashmir Valley’s road connectivity with the mainland on Monday, as Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) began plying from Srinagar towards Jammu.
This alternative route came into use after the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained closed for the second consecutive day due to landslides at Ramban.
Speaking to the media at Hirpora in Shopian district of South Kashmir, SSP Traffic, Rural Kashmir, Ravinder Paul Singh , said the Mughal Road had already been restored for traffic a few days ago.
“Today, LMVs were allowed to move from Srinagar to Jammu after receiving clearance from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and other concerned road agencies,” he said.
He added that efforts are underway to allow the movement of heavy vehicles, including buses and trucks, starting Tuesday, subject to a green signal from the relevant stakeholders.
“We aim to ensure the continuous supply of essential commodities to the Valley,” SSP Singh said, adding that authorities are also working to restore two-way traffic for LMVs on the Mughal Road.
Until then, one-way traffic will continue based on advisories issued by the traffic headquarters. He urged commuters to check the latest advisories before planning any travel via the route.
The SSP also mentioned that priority will be given to apple-laden trucks currently stranded near Hirpora.
Meanwhile, several tourist buses were halted for hours in Pulwama and Shopian districts. A driver of a tourist bus from Gujarat, who identified himself as Alpesh, said he and many senior citizens had been stranded near Qazigund since Saturday.
“On Monday morning, we were directed to take the Mughal Road to travel towards Jammu,” he said. “We’ve been waiting on the roadside at Hirpora in Shopian for the past five hours, facing great inconvenience.”
Alpesh added that local residents provided them with fruits and snacks. “We don’t want anything else—we just want to get back home,” he said, appealing to the authorities to restore traffic movement and allow stranded vehicles to proceed.
Meanwhile, the Traffic Police Headquarters, J&K issued a traffic plan and Advisory advising people not to undertake journey on Jammu Srinagar National tomorrow as the restoration works in flood hit areas of Ramban is still going on.
“Tomorrow vehicular movement will remain suspended on Jammu Srinagar NHW as the restoration work could not be completed today. People are advised not to undertake journey on Jammu-Srinagar NHW (NH-44) till the restoration work is completed and the surface is traffic worthy”, it said.
As per the Advisory Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag (NH244) road is closed due to fresh snow fall. Decision regarding the vehicular movement on the road shall be taken after getting green signal from NHIDCL
Similarly, subject to fair weather and good road condition, after getting green signal from Road maintenance agencies (BRO), only one way traffic for all LMVs with Anti-skid chains followed by HMVs (only six tyres) shall be allowed from Kargil towards Srinagar on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road. These vehicles shall be allowed from Minamarg upto 1330 hrs. No vehicle shall be allowed after cut off timing.
Likewise, subject to fair weather and good road condition, after getting green signal from Road maintenance agencies (GREF), LMVs Passenger/Private Cars shall be allowed from both sides on Mughal road viz from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa via Poonch. These vehicles shall be allowed from Behramgala (Baffliaz) and Herpora (Shopian) at 0900 hrs. upto 1500 hrs.
The advisory further mentioned cut off timings for LMVs, Passenger/ private cars. The cut off timings from Jammu Side at Akhnoor is 1000 hrs, at Bhambla 1100 hrs, at Rajouri 1300 hrs. The commuters shall cross Manjakote by 1330 hrs, Surankote by 1430 hrs and Behramgala by 1500 hrs at the latest.
The cut off timings from Srinagar Side is 1230 hrs for TRC Srinagar, commuters should cross Nowgam Peaks by 1300 hrs, Pantha Chowk by 1300 hrs, Chandhara Pampore by 1400 hrs, Galandar via Kakapora by 1400 hrs, Marvel Crossing by 1400 hrs, Kandizal (Peaks NH-44) by 1400 hrs, Khudwani by 1400 hrs, Chawalgam Kulgam by 1415 hrs, Keegam NH-44 by 1430 hrs and Herpora by 1500 hrs at the latest.
As per the advisory No vehicle shall be allowed after cut off timings and No vehicle shall be allowed through Thanamandi-DKG-Baffliaz.
For Bhaderwah-Chamba road the advisory said It is still closed due to snow accumulation.
People are advised to undertake journey only after confirming status of the road from Traffic control units viz Jammu (0191-2459048, 0191- 2740550, 9419147732, 103), Srinagar (0194-2450022, 2485396, 18001807091, 103), Ramban (9419993745, 1800-180-7043), Udhampur (8491928625), PCR Kishtwar (9906154100), PCR Kargil (9541902330, 9541902331 and PCR Ganderbal (9906668731).
