Traffic resumes on Srinagar-Jammu highway, Mughal road closed

However, the historic 86-km-long Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region was closed on Saturday due to snowfall at several places, including Pir-ki-Gali since early this morning.

In view of the forecast for snowfall during the next 48 hours in the Jammu and Kashmir which could affect surface and air traffic, the authorities have put in place all necessary arrangements, including Disaster Management Centres (DMC) at different places on the Srinagar-Jammu national to accommodate passengers and truckers in case the road is closed due to landslides, shooting stones and snow in winter. 

Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway was resumed this morning after remaining suspended on Friday.

The UT government has ordered closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway on every Friday till November 30 to allow agencies, responsible for the maintenance and widening of the highway, to undertake necessary work for smooth plying of vehicles during winter.

A traffic police official told UNI that  Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) were allowed from Jammu to Srinagar today. However, he said, Kashmir bound vehicles had to cross Nagrota Jammu between 0500 hrs to 1100 hrs and Jakheni Udhampur 0600 hrs to 1200 hrs. No vehicle will be allowed after the deadline, he said.

He said Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) will be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu. No vehicle will be allowed after 1600 hrs, he said,  adding that Traffic Control Unit (TCU) at Ramban will coordinate allowing oil tankers and vehicles carrying perishable items from opposite direction to Kashmir.

Security force vehicles will ply from Srinagar towards Jammu after contacting traffic authorities, he added.

Meanwhile, the District administration Anantnag has made arrangements, including accommodation, bedding, mobile toilets, healthcare, power supply, heating arrangements, ration, baby foods and other essentials  being made available at disaster management centres for the upcoming winter along National Highway from Lawdoora to Jawahar Tunnel for the stranded passengers. Each of these centres has the capacity for accommodation of 200 people.

Traffic spokesman said traffic on Mughal road, which is seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway has been suspended following snowfall since early this morning.

The road has become slippery due to snowfall, he said adding there is a forecast for more snowfall.

Traffic will be resumed only after there is improvement in the weather and road become safe for journey.