Srinagar, Mar 04: After remaining closed for more than 26 hours due to maintenance work at various places, vehicular movement on the Srinagar-Jammu highway was restored on Saturday and stranded vehicles were cleared from both sides, officials said.
A traffic police department spokesman said on around 11 am on Saturday, passenger traffic was resumed on both sides of Jammu Srinagar NHW. Till late hours, traffic was plying normally on the highway, he said.
The road was closed for vehicular traffic between Jammu and Srinagar on Friday after the administration declared March 3 and March 10 as Traffic Dry Days for carrying out maintenance and repair work on the National Highway.
“The highway was scheduled to reopen at 6 AM, but was delayed due to maintenance work at Shalgadi, it will take some time,” the spokesman said.
The highway is the lifeline of Kashmir valley and the main road link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country.
As per the traffic department advisory, subject to fair weather and road clearance, LMVs Passenger/Private Cars shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar NHW viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa. TCU Jammu/Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic, it said.
The Cut Off Timings For LMV’s/Passenger/Private Cars, they will be released from Nagrota (Jammu) from 0600 hrs. to 1200 hrs. from Jakheni (Udhampur) 0700 hrs to 1300 hrs &from NAVYUG Tunnel (Qzd. side) 0800 hrs to 1200 hrs.
“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.
Advisory reads that Subject to fair weather and better road conditions, HMVs shall be allowed from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar after assessing the road and traffic situation on NH-44. TCU Udhampur shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the HMVs.
It says that Security Forces requested not to ply against advisory plan in view of possible traffic congestion because of narrow carriage way between Nashree and Banihal on Jammu-Srinagar NHW. On Sunday, they may ply from Jammu towards Srinagar after confirming the status of NHW from TCU Ramban, reads the advisory.
On Saturday, light rain lashed over Kashmir , while Meteorological Department has predicted mainly dry weather till 12th March in the region.
“There will be appreciable rise in day temperatures from Sunday onwards in whole J&K,” MeT said.
