Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Aug 4
Traffic resumed in both directions on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Tuesday after improving weather allowed authorities to reopen the road, although damaged stretches and ongoing repair work continued to cause long delays, officials said.
The highway remained open for the scheduled movement of the annual Amarnath Yatra convoy, while light and heavy vehicles were allowed to travel under regulated traffic arrangements, officials said.
Traffic moved slowly along damaged single-lane sections near Dewal in Udhampur district and between Maroog and Kishtwari Pather in Ramban district, where vehicles queued for hours.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) restored the worst-affected stretch near Dewal on Monday evening after filling damaged portions of the carriageway with stones and repairing the road surface.
The section had become muddy and slippery following recent monsoon rains, forcing repeated closures over the past several days to allow emergency repairs.
Men, machinery and heavy equipment have remained deployed at the site since June to carry out restoration work and regulate traffic through the vulnerable stretch.
Authorities said the Dewal section remains susceptible to fresh landslides because of unstable slopes and continued rainfall, and traffic would continue to be regulated for safety.
Restrictions on local inter-district movement also remain in place after the daily passage of the Amarnath Yatra convoy.
Only commuters carrying valid identification are being allowed to cross designated checkpoints after verification and within prescribed timings, officials said.
Traffic police advised motorists travelling to Srinagar to use the old Jawahar Tunnel route to avoid congestion and security checks near Banihal.
Passengers travelling to Batote, Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar were advised to use the Patnitop road from Jammu.
Authorities also urged motorists to travel only during daylight because of the continuing risk of landslides, shooting stones and ongoing highway widening works between Ramban and Banihal.
Heavy vehicles transporting fruit, vegetables, livestock and other perishable goods were instructed to follow the movement schedule issued by traffic authorities, under which such vehicles are currently being allowed on alternate days.
Fruit growers and transporters from Kashmir were asked to assemble their vehicles at designated locations near the Navyug Tunnel before the scheduled departure time to facilitate traffic management.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Ramban, Raja Adil Hameed, said police were coordinating with the NHAI to ensure the safe movement of vehicles through vulnerable sections of the highway.
The highway has witnessed repeated disruptions over the past two weeks after monsoon rains triggered landslides, mudslides, flash floods and falling rocks at several locations between Udhampur, Ramban and Banihal.
Although traffic resumed on Tuesday, long queues of vehicles continued to build near the Samroli-Dewal stretch as authorities regulated movement through the damaged single-lane section.
