Srinagar-Jammu highway likely to be reopened today

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway, connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, after remaining closed for three days is likely to be reopened on Friday for one-way traffic movement.

"The Srinagar-Jammu national highway is likely to be opened for one way traffic movement on Friday as the clearance of stranded vehicles, including goods carrier and passenger buses enroute 300-km artery road would be completed by this evening," an official spokesman said on Thursday.

The issue was brought to the knowledge of Minister of State for Home, Industries and Commerce Sajad Ahmad Kichloo, who took stock of the measures taken to restore the vehicular movement on Srinagar-Jammu, other national highways and interior roads, which were blocked due to heavy snowfall.

"The Qazigund-Jawahar tunnel stretch of the national highway and the road stretch between Ramban-Batote would be cleared on Friday," an official spokesman said.

The Jammu-Patnitop sector of the National Highway has already been opened for vehicular movement. The meeting was also told that the traffic movement on national highways connecting Erstwhile Doda District, border districts of Poonch Rajouri would be restored by today.

The meeting also reviewed stock and supply position of essential commodities and restoration of essential public service in the snowbound areas of the state.

Kichloo took stock of the preparedness of the state administration in case of further snowing and asked the authorities concerned to be vigilant and pro-active to meet any eventuality.

Officers and engineers in their respective jurisdiction should be more responsive to the needs of the people, he said.