Srinagar, Sept 01: In a significant relief for truckers navigating the challenging Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, traffic authorities have removed manual halts for Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) with less than 4 axles. This move, prompted by a holistic review led by Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, has ushered in smoother journeys for goods carriers, eliminating long waiting periods that had previously marred their transit.
The decision comes just in time for the upcoming fruit season, during which thousands of additional vehicles laden with fresh produce regularly traverse this vital route. The revised advisory underscores the importance of granting priority access to HMVs transporting perishable items like fruits, vegetables, and poultry.
To ensure seamless travel and avoid unexpected breakdowns, the department has urged truckers to strictly adhere to load limits and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy. They are also encouraged to maintain optimal speeds, preventing disruptions for other road users and ensuring a swift journey of 8-10 hours to their destinations.
During the inspection, the team overseeing the highway’s condition took note of progress on various infrastructure projects, including tunnels, viaducts, and flyovers. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been directed to keep personnel and machinery ready in challenging areas prone to landslides, such as Dalwas, Mehad, and Cafeteria Morh, ensuring continuous movement of HMVs on both sides of the highway.
Following the Chief Secretary’s directives, the advisory’s implementation has already yielded positive results. The highway, especially near Qazigund (Anantnag) and Jakhani (Udhampur), is no longer plagued by lengthy halts for HMVs, ensuring a smoother flow of traffic.
A recent analysis of highway data reveals that from August 28th to August 30th, a total of 11,616 HMVs, including fruit, vegetable, and poultry carriers, were granted unrestricted access to NH-44. On August 30th alone, 5,386 HMVs traversed the highway from both directions, comprising 3,281 trucks, 1,138 oil tankers, 141 gas tankers, 654 fruit trucks, 69 vegetable-laden trucks, 85 poultry carriers, 181 food grain (FCI) trucks, and 26 sheep trucks.
In the past three days, 7,427 goods trucks, 1,041 fruit trucks, 277 vegetable trucks, 181 FCI trucks, 85 poultry carriers, and 26 sheep trucks, including 255 buses, have successfully crossed the highway from both directions. Impressively, these vehicles met their destinations within the prescribed timeframe of 8-10 hours, encountering minimal disruptions on this challenging route.
