Traffic restored on Jammu-Srinagar national highway

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was restored for vehicular traffic on Saturday with restrictions after remaining closed due to obstructions at multiple places caused by snowfall and intermittent rains in the state on Friday.

Shooting stones and accumulated snow had blocked the road on Friday at many places, leading to the closure of this strategic highway.

"The road has been cleared of debris and snow and traffic will ply from both sides (Valley and Jammu) on Friday.

"But due to slippery conditions on the track, restrictions on timings have been placed to manage the flow of vehicles," a senior traffic department official told IANS here.

He said from Nagrota toll postin Jammu, Srinagar bound vehicles will be allowed to move from six a.m. to one p.m. while heavy motor vehicles will be permitted only between 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

"No Srinagar bound passenger vehicle will be permitted to cross Udhampur district after 2.30 p.m.," the official added.

From Qazigund in Kashmir valley light motor vehicles will be permitted to move towards Jammu only between 8.30 a.m to three p.m. while heavy motor vehicles will be permitted only between nine a.m. to two p.m.

He said no night movement of traffic would be allowed on the highway, particularly in the snow-bound, slippery stretch.

Jammu-Srinagar national highway is over 300 kilometres long road link which connects the two regions of the state and acts as a conduit of supplies for the landlocked valley.