Srinagar
Only force vehicles will ply on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the road linking Kashmir valley with the rest of the country on Monday, official sources said.
Meanwhile, the historic 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region remained closed since November 6 due to accumulation of snow and slippery conditions.
They said no civilian vehicle, including those carrying passengers, will be allowed to ply on the Srinagar-Jammu highway on Monday.
Sources said only security force vehicles will ply from both Jammu and Srinagar today.
However, a traffic police official said traffic on the highway has been suspended for undertaking some repair work of the road. However, he said, only security force vehicles stranded on the highway will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations today.
Locals, including transporters and truckers, contesting the authorities claim that the highway has been closed for civilian traffic for repair work, said repair of the road has become a daily routine and no security force vehicle is stranded.
The highway remains shut frequently due to landslides and shooting stones, they alleged. They said last Monday also only security force vehicles were allowed to ply on the highway when civilian traffic was stopped.
Early this year the highway was closed for civilian traffic twice in a week-Wednesday and Sunday-from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Udhampur in Jammu when only security forces vehicles were plying. Later, restriction on civilian traffic was withdrawn first between Baramulla to Srinagar and later on the entire highway.(UNI)
