SRINAGAR: Traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) is likely to remain slow on Sunday due to single-lane road stretches, ongoing construction work and the movement of nomadic herds, prompting the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police to advise commuters to travel during daylight hours.
According to the latest traffic advisory, very slow movement was recorded on NH-44 between 6 pm on November 7 and 6 pm on November 8 due to single-lane conditions at Dawal in Udhampur and between Marog and Kishtwari Pather. The situation was further affected by the breakdown of two vehicles between Marog and Nachlana.
The authorities said the movement of nomadic herds along the single-lane stretch between Marog and Kishtwari Pather was also likely to cause delays. Commuters have been advised to maintain lane discipline and avoid overtaking. Traffic is being regulated at Dawal, where a stretch of around 30 to 40 metres has been reduced to a single lane.
The Traffic Police has advised passengers and light motor vehicle (LMV) operators to undertake journeys during daylight hours and avoid night travel due to the possibility of shooting stones and landslides, movement of nomadic herds and ongoing construction work between Ramban and Banihal.
Restrictions have also been imposed on Kashmir-bound oil and gas tankers on the Digdol-Khooni Nallah stretch due to widening work being undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Their movement on the stretch will remain restricted between 7 am and 7 pm.
Tankers carrying inflammable material will be permitted to move beyond Chenani only after 5 pm, with movement allowed until 5 am, the advisory stated. Tanker operators have been asked to plan their journeys accordingly.
Goods carriers transporting fresh perishable items and livestock have also been advised to load their vehicles in accordance with the advisory, keeping in view the possibility of shooting stones, landslides and construction-related delays.
Heavy motor vehicle (HMV) operators have been asked to avoid overloading, ensure adequate fuel and check the fitness of their vehicles before undertaking journeys. Commuters have also been advised against unnecessary halts, particularly between Ramban and Banihal and near landslide-prone stretches.
As per the traffic plan for November 9, passenger vehicles, private cars, LMVs, HMVs and goods carriers will be allowed to ply on both sides of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, subject to favourable weather and satisfactory road conditions. Security forces’ convoys will also be permitted in both directions after confirmation of the highway’s status from the Traffic Control Unit Ramban.
On the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag National Highway (NH-244), LMVs and passenger and private cars will be allowed to travel in both directions, subject to favourable weather, road conditions and clearance from road maintenance agencies. Vehicles will be permitted from PP Parana towards Anantnag between 8 am and 4 pm and from Daksum towards Kishtwar between 9 am and 4 pm. No vehicle will be allowed beyond the prescribed cut-off timings.
On the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road, also known as the SSG Road, LMVs will be allowed to ply in both directions, subject to favourable weather, road conditions and clearance from road maintenance agencies. Vehicles will be permitted from Sonamarg towards Kargil and from Minamarg towards Srinagar until 1 pm after the necessary clearance. HMVs will be allowed from Sonamarg towards Kargil between noon and 5 pm. No vehicle will be permitted after 5 pm.
Security forces have been advised to regulate their convoy movement to ensure that civilian traffic is not disrupted.
On the Mughal Road (NH-701A), vehicular movement will be allowed in both directions, subject to favourable weather, road conditions and clearance from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF). LMVs, followed by HMVs with a maximum of ten tyres, will be permitted to ply between Poonch and Shopian in both directions.
Vehicles will be allowed from Chandimandir (Buffliaz) towards Shopian and from Herpora (Shopian) towards Poonch between 7 am and 6 pm, subject to the prescribed cut-off timings.
The Traffic Police has urged commuters to confirm the latest road status from the respective Traffic Control Units before starting their journeys.
Commuters can contact the Traffic Control Rooms at Jammu on 0191-2459048, 0191-2740550, 9419147732 or 103; Srinagar on 0194-2450022, 2485396, 18001807091 or 103; Ramban on 9419993745 or 1800-180-7043; Udhampur on 8491928625; PCR Kishtwar on 9906154100; and PCR Kargil on 9541902330 or 9541902331.
