Srinagar-Leh highway reopens for vehicular traffic

Srinagar, Nov 18: After remaining blocked for two days due to heavy snowfall along the Zojila pass, the authorities on Tuesday completed the snow clearance process and reopened the Srinagar-Leh highway for vehicular traffic, officials said.
A senior traffic Police officer told Rising Kashmir that after clearance of snow from the road, traffic has been released from Minimarg towards Sonamarg however Mughal road is still closed, he said.
Earlier Srinagar-Leh highway and Mughal road were closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall in Kashmir.
“Subject to fair weather and good road condition, vehicular movement on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road shall be allowed from both the sides viz Srinagar towards Kargil and vice-versa,” the official said.
He said in view of winter/ frost on road, legal motor vehicles (LMV) followed by heavy motor vehicles (HMV) shall be allowed from Minamarg towards Srinagar at 8 am to 11:30 hrs. Similarly, HMVs shall be allowed from Sonamarg towards Kargil at 1 PM to 5 PM.
On Tuesday, traffic remained disrupted along the Srinagar-Jammu highway for several hours due to shooting stones, and filling of potholes at Mehar, Cafeteria and there was the breakdown of 13 HMVS at various locations on NH-44.
As per the traffic advisory, subject to fair weather and road clearance, LMVs passengers, private cars shall be allowed from both sides on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Wednesday.
“TCU Jammu and TCU Srinagar will inform all concerned about the traffic advisory and cut off timings. No vehicle shall be allowed to move before and after cut off timings,” it said.
On historic Mughal road, subject to fair weather and good road condition, vehicular movement shall be allowed from both sides on Mughal road viz from Shopian towards Poonch and vice versa .
“In view of winter season/frost on road, LMVs will be released from Behramgalla (Buffliaz), Poonch towards Srinagar and from Herpora (Shopian) towards Poonch and it will be followed by HMVs,” reads traffic the advisory
It said no vehicle shall be allowed before and after cut off timings.People are advised to undertake journeys on NHW-44 only after confirming status of the road from Traffic control units,” it said.