SRINAGAR: The Traffic Police Headquarters, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday issued a fresh traffic advisory for July 9, stating that vehicular movement on major routes, including the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri Road and Mughal Road, will remain subject to weather and road conditions.
According to the advisory, from July 7 evening to July 8 evening, slow movement was witnessed on NH-44 due to single-lane traffic at several stretches between Marog and Kishtwari Pather, besides vehicle breakdowns and poor road conditions at some places.
The Traffic Police advised commuters not to undertake journeys on NH-44 without confirming the latest road status from Traffic Control Units (TCUs) in Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur and Ramban.
The department said that passenger and private vehicles will be allowed to move from both Jammu towards Srinagar and Srinagar towards Jammu on NH-44 on Wednesday, subject to fair weather and better road conditions. Commuters have been advised to strictly follow lane discipline, as overtaking may lead to traffic congestion.
Authorities said that heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) will be regulated after assessing road and traffic conditions. HMV operators have been asked to avoid overloading, carry sufficient fuel and avoid unnecessary halts on the highway.
The advisory further stated that goods carriers transporting fresh perishable items and livestock should load their vehicles as per the instructions issued by Traffic Police Headquarters to ensure smooth movement.
The Traffic Police also advised security forces not to move against the advisory and to plan their convoy movement only after confirming the status of NH-44 from TCUs.
For commuters travelling towards Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and adjoining areas, authorities advised using the old road via Patnitop while following traffic rules.
On Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) Road, traffic movement will remain subject to fair weather and road conditions. Vehicles will be allowed from both Srinagar and Kargil sides as per scheduled timings. Motorists have been advised to avoid unnecessary stoppages and follow directions issued by traffic officials.
For Mughal Road, officials said vehicular movement between Shopian and Poonch will also depend on weather and road conditions. Travellers have been asked to follow the prescribed timings and avoid travelling during restricted hours.
The advisory also mentioned that on the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road, traffic movement will remain regulated, and commuters have been urged to confirm road conditions before travelling.
The Traffic Police said movement on the Srinagar-Leh highway and other vulnerable stretches could be affected due to weather conditions, landslides or shooting stones, particularly between Ramban and Banihal.
Motorists have been requested to avoid wrong-lane driving, unnecessary overtaking and roadside parking. The department said strict action will be taken against violators as such practices lead to traffic jams and inconvenience to travellers.
For updates, commuters have been advised to contact Traffic Control Units at Jammu, Srinagar, Ramban, Udhampur and other designated helpline numbers before starting their journey.
