KL Report
SRINAGAR
The Srinagar-Jammu highway, which was thrown open for one-way traffic Friday, witnessed acute traffic mess, giving tough time to passengers.
According to reports received by KNS said that the passengers had to face several hardships due to long traffic jams on highway. “There was a complete chaos on highway as thousands of vehicles remained struck in frequent and long traffic jams due to stranded vehicles. The traffic was moving with snail’s pace and it took hours to cover even a small distance,” Bashir Ahmad, a government employee told KNS from Banihal on phone while returning from Jammu.
Reports said that many vehicles remained stranded between the Udhampur-Ramban and other stretch of the highway due to acute traffic jam. The highway was thrown open for the one way traffic (Jmu to Sgr) Friday morning.
Some stranded drivers, who spoke to KNS over phone, alleged that the traffic police cops failed to manage traffic. “Even as the traffic movement was from Jammu to Srinagar, scores of vehicles were allowed from Srinagar to Jammu,” said Murtaza Chowdary, a passenger vehicle driver. Drivers alleged that the food on the highway is sold at exorbitant rates.
Official sources said only 408 light motor vehicles were able to cross the Banihal tunnel till 5 PM while thousands of vehicles were stilling moving slowly.
When contacted, the officials of traffic police said that the slippery road hindered the smooth movement of traffic. “There was slow movement on the route till afternoon owing to slippery road but traffic movement was smooth.
