SRINAGAR: Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) is likely to remain slow at vulnerable stretches, while the movement of goods carriers from Udhampur towards Kashmir will be restricted on October 31 and November 1 to facilitate the Darbar Move convoy, Traffic Police Headquarters, Jammu and Kashmir, said in an advisory.
The police said very slow traffic movement was recorded between October 28 and October 29 due to a single-lane, uneven road surface at Dawal in Udhampur and another single-lane stretch between Marog and Kishtwari Pather. The movement of five broken-down vehicles between Marog and Kishtwari Pather, along with four nomadic herds crossing the Banihal-Nachlana stretch, also affected traffic.
The movement of nomadic herds is likely to slow traffic further between Marog and Kishtwari Pather. Commuters have been advised to maintain lane discipline and avoid overtaking.
As part of the arrangements for the movement of Secretariat employees from Srinagar to Jammu, no upward movement of heavy and medium motor vehicles carrying goods from Jakheni in Udhampur towards Srinagar will be permitted on NH-44 on October 31 and November 1. Downward movement of heavy motor vehicles from Qazigund towards Jammu will be allowed in a regulated manner.
The advisory further states that goods carriers will not be allowed to proceed from Jakheni towards Ramban, Banihal, Srinagar and other destinations, or from Qazigund towards Banihal, Ramban and Udhampur, after 2 am on October 31 and November 1. The restrictions apply to the intervening nights of October 30-31 and October 31-November 1. Operators transporting fresh perishable goods or livestock have been asked to plan their loading and journeys accordingly.
For October 30, subject to favourable weather and road conditions, passenger light motor vehicles, private cars, passenger vehicles and goods carriers will be permitted to travel in both directions on NH-44. Security Forces vehicles will also be allowed to move in both directions after confirming the highway’s status with the Traffic Control Unit in Ramban.
Traffic Police said a 30-40-metre stretch at Dawal was being managed under regulated conditions because of the single-lane road. Passenger and light motor vehicle operators have been advised to travel during daylight and avoid night journeys because of the risk of shooting stones and landslides, nomadic movement and ongoing construction work between Ramban and Banihal.
The movement of Kashmir-bound oil and gas tankers will remain restricted on the Digdol-Khooni Nalla stretch between 7 am and 7 pm due to widening work by the National Highways Authority of India and restrictions on carrying inflammable material through tunnels. Upward tankers will be allowed beyond Chenani only between 5 pm and 5 am. Operators have been asked to plan their journeys accordingly.
The police have also advised heavy motor vehicle operators to avoid overloading, check their vehicles’ fitness and carry sufficient fuel. Commuters have been asked to avoid unnecessary halts between Ramban and Banihal, particularly near landslide- and shooting-stone-prone areas.
On the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road (NH-244), passenger light motor vehicles and private cars will be allowed in both directions, subject to favourable weather, good road conditions and clearance from road maintenance agencies. Vehicles will be permitted to travel 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 times.
On the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road, also known as the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Kargil route, light motor vehicles will be permitted in both directions subject to favourable weather, road conditions and clearance from maintenance agencies. Vehicles will be allowed from Sonamarg towards Kargil and from Minamarg towards Srinagar until 1 pm. Heavy motor vehicles will be allowed from Sonamarg towards Kargil between noon and 4 pm, with no vehicle permitted after 4 pm. Motorists have been advised to carry and use anti-skid chains on slippery stretches.
On the Mughal Road (NH-701A), light motor vehicles followed by heavy motor vehicles with a maximum of 10 tyres will be permitted in both directions, subject to favourable weather, good road conditions and clearance from the road maintenance agency. Vehicles will be allowed from Chandimarh in Poonch towards Shopian and from Herpora in Shopian towards Poonch between 7 am and 6 pm. No vehicle will be allowed after the prescribed cut-off time.
The Traffic Police have urged commuters to confirm road conditions with the relevant control units before starting their journeys.
The Traffic Control Unit in Jammu can be contacted on 0191-2459048, 0191-2740550, 9419147732 or 103; Srinagar on 0194-2450022, 0194-2485396, 18001807091 or 103; Ramban on 9419993745 or 1800-180-7043; Udhampur on 8491928625; PCR Kishtwar on 9906154100; and PCR Kargil on 9541902330 or 9541902331.
