Kashmir Impulse Desk

Ramban, May 12 

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open for two-way movement of light motor vehicles on Tuesday despite intermittent rain, although traffic moved slowly at several stretches due to congestion, vehicle breakdowns and the movement of nomadic herds, officials said.

Traffic authorities said the highway was also expected to remain open for two-way movement of both light and heavy vehicles on Wednesday, subject to favourable weather and road conditions.

Officials reported heavy congestion between Marog and Kishtwari Pather, where single-lane road conditions created bottlenecks along the route.

The situation worsened after two heavy motor vehicles developed mechanical faults at Panthyal and Digdool, causing further delays, they said.

Authorities added that the movement of nomadic herds along the Nachlana-Banihal stretch continued to affect the smooth flow of traffic.

Around 14 nomadic herds crossed the highway on Tuesday, while several more are expected to move through the area in the coming days.

“Traffic movement on the single-lane stretch between Marog and Kishtwari Pather is likely to remain slow due to the ongoing movement of nomadic herds,” officials said.

Commuters were advised to maintain lane discipline and avoid overtaking, warning that wrong-lane driving could lead to traffic jams and disrupt vehicle movement.

Passengers and transport operators were also urged to avoid travelling at night because of risks from shooting stones, landslides, ongoing road construction work between Ramban and Banihal, and continued nomadic movement along the highway.

Traffic Control Units in Jammu and Srinagar, along with the Ramban district administration, were monitoring the situation closely, officials said.

Authorities advised travellers to check the latest traffic and weather updates before undertaking journeys on the highway.