SRINAGAR: Traffic Police Headquarters, J&K, has issued a fresh advisory for commuters travelling on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) and other major routes, citing poor road conditions, ongoing construction work, landslide-prone stretches and the forecast of rainfall over the next few days.
According to the advisory, very slow traffic movement was observed on NH-44 between August 25 and 26 due to single-lane movement, uneven road surface at Dawal in Udhampur and another single-lane stretch between Marog and Khilani in Ramban district. The breakdown of two vehicles between Nashri and Ramban also contributed to the slow movement.
Traffic has been regulated at Dawal, Udhampur, where movement is restricted to a single lane for around 30-40 metres.
In view of the inclement weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department, commuters have been advised to undertake journeys only after confirming the status of roads from Traffic Control Units (TCUs). They have also been asked to check updates through the J&K Traffic Police social media handles.
Traffic Police has advised passenger and light motor vehicle operators to preferably travel on Jammu-Srinagar NHW during daytime. Night travel between Ramban and Banihal has been discouraged due to the possibility of shooting stones and landslides, besides ongoing construction work that could cause inconvenience to commuters.
The advisory also places restrictions on the movement of Kashmir-bound oil and gas tankers on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. In view of widening work being undertaken by NHAI on the Digdoil-Khooni Nalla stretch, movement of tankers loaded with inflammable material will remain restricted through tunnels between 7 am and 7 pm.
Such tankers will be allowed beyond Qamar Channel only after 5 pm and up to 5 am. Tanker operators have been advised to plan their journey accordingly to avoid inconvenience and ensure safety.
Operators of heavy motor vehicles and light motor vehicles carrying fresh and perishable stock have been advised to load their vehicles as per Traffic Police guidelines, keeping in view the possibility of shooting stones, landslides and ongoing construction work between Ramban and Banihal.
Vehicle owners have also been asked to avoid overloading, carry sufficient fuel and verify the fitness of their vehicles before undertaking journeys on the highway.
Commuters have further been advised to avoid unnecessary halts between Ramban and Banihal, particularly near landslide- and shooting-stone-prone areas.
For August 27, Traffic Police said LMVs, passenger vehicles, private cars and heavy motor vehicles carrying goods would be allowed from both sides on NH-44, subject to fair weather and good road conditions.
Commuters have been asked to maintain lane discipline, with Traffic Control Units in Jammu and Srinagar coordinating with TCU Ramban regarding road conditions. Overtaking and wrong-lane driving have been discouraged as these could result in congestion.
Army convoy movement on NH-44 will also be regulated according to weather and road conditions, with movement undertaken after confirmation of the highway status from TCU Ramban.
On the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag NH-244, LMVs, passenger and private cars will be allowed from both sides after receiving a green signal from road maintenance agencies. Traffic Police said vehicles would be allowed to move from Kishtwar towards Srinagar between 6 am and 4 pm and from Daksum towards Kishtwar between 9 am and 4 pm.
No vehicle will be allowed after the prescribed cut-off timings.
On the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road, LMVs will be allowed from both sides between Srinagar and Kargil, subject to road clearance and weather conditions. Vehicles from Srinagar towards Sonamarg-Kargil will be allowed up to Sonamarg until 1 pm, while movement from Sonamarg towards Kargil will be permitted between 12 noon and 7 pm.
Heavy motor vehicles will be allowed towards Kargil between 7 am and 1 pm and towards Sonamarg between 1 pm and 7 pm. Drivers have been advised to carry anti-skid chains due to slippery road conditions.
On Mughal Road, vehicular movement will be permitted after clearance from the road maintenance agency, with LMVs allowed from both sides and HMVs restricted to specified timings and stretches. No vehicle will be allowed to proceed after the prescribed cut-off timings.
Traffic Police has advised commuters to confirm road status before starting their journey through the designated control rooms in Jammu, Srinagar, Ramban, Udhampur, Kishtwar and Kargil
