Convoys travelling to the Baltal route will depart Jammu at 4 am, those bound for Pahalgam route will leave 15 minutes later
Kashmir Impulse Desk
Ramban, June 30
Jammu and Kashmir’s Traffic Police has issued a revised traffic advisory for this year’s Amarnath pilgrimage, introducing new convoy schedules and travel restrictions aimed at ensuring the safe movement of pilgrims along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and within Kashmir.
The revised advisory, which takes effect from July 2 and will remain in force until the conclusion of the pilgrimage on August 28, prescribes separate movement schedules for official yatra convoys, non-convoy pilgrims and tourist vehicles.
Under the revised plan, convoys travelling to the Baltal route will depart Jammu at 4 am, while those bound for the traditional Pahalgam route will leave 15 minutes later.
Authorities have also fixed cut-off timings at several transit points, including Banihal, Manigam, Baltal and Nunwan, to regulate onward and return movement.
Tourist vehicles travelling from Jammu towards Kashmir will also be subject to staggered cut-off timings at Nagrota, Udhampur, Chanderkote and Banihal, while non-convoy pilgrims entering Jammu and Kashmir from Punjab will be required to cross designated reception points within specified hours.
The advisory imposes additional restrictions within the Kashmir Valley, prohibiting yatri and tourist vehicles from travelling on several routes after evening cut-off timings. Authorities said movement would generally be permitted only between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., after which vehicles would be directed to designated camps once security road-opening operations conclude.
Traffic Police said the revised schedule applies exclusively to pilgrimage convoys, pilgrims and tourist vehicles, while the movement of other light and heavy vehicles will continue to be regulated through separate daily traffic advisories.
Inspector General of Police (Traffic) Muhammad Suleman Choudhary urged pilgrims and motorists to strictly adhere to the notified timings, saying coordinated traffic management was essential for ensuring a safe and orderly pilgrimage along one of the country’s busiest mountain highways.
