SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said there is no viable alternative to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), describing the Mughal Road as being in an even worse condition, as he reviewed restoration work on the rain-hit highway in Ramban district.
Travelling from Jammu to Srinagar, Abdullah inspected damaged stretches of the highway and assessed repair works following landslides and road damage caused by last week’s heavy rainfall. He also reviewed the traffic situation amid the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
Addressing reporters in Ramban, the Chief Minister said uninterrupted restoration of NH-44 remains the government’s priority as it is the Valley’s only all-weather road link.
“There is no alternative to this highway. I travelled via the Rajouri-Poonch route through Peer Ki Gali and Buffliaz two days ago. The condition of that stretch is far worse than this,” Abdullah said, indicating that the Mughal Road cannot currently serve as a dependable substitute.
He said the damage on NH-44 was confined to a few vulnerable stretches and that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), traffic police and the district administration were working round the clock to restore normal traffic whenever weather-related disruptions occur.
The Chief Minister said he had earlier held a review meeting with NHAI officials in Udhampur before inspecting affected locations in Ramban.
Highlighting the twin challenges of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and Kashmir’s peak fruit season, Abdullah said the administration was ensuring smooth movement of essential supplies and horticultural produce.
“Fruit-laden trucks are being given priority so that growers do not suffer losses. Petroleum tankers from Jammu are also being prioritised to ensure there is no shortage of essential commodities,” he said.
Appealing for public cooperation, Abdullah urged commuters to remain patient whenever traffic is temporarily suspended due to landslides or road restoration work, saying every effort is being made to reopen the highway at the earliest.
He also expressed satisfaction over the smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra, noting that a large number of pilgrims have safely visited the holy cave shrine this year.
