Govt assures stranded passengers of reopening highway by late

Amid protests by stranded Kashmir-bound passengers and demands for airlifting, two state ministers today rushed to the Jammu bus stand to pacify the passengers and assured them of restoration of the highway by late hours today.
Minister For Education Naeem Akhtar, accompanied by Minister for R&B Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, today visited General Bus Stand, Jammu and took stock of the problems of the stranded passengers.
Interacting with the stranded passengers, the Education Minister said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is carrying out restoration work on war-footing and the damaged stretch in Ramban area is expected to be cleared by late hours today.

He said on Wednesday about 1000 light vehicles were allowed to move towards Srinagar and expressed hope that if the weather conditions improve transport will be allowed fully to ply towards Srinagar.
The Minister said the traffic movement on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed temporarily due to landslides at some stretches to protect any loss of life and property.
Redressal of the people's grievances is the prime concern of the government and "the service to humanity is its mission and goal", he said and assured the stranded passengers that the government is abreast with their problems and would take requisite steps to redress them.

The Minister directed officials concerned to take strict action against the profiteers especially hoteliers who are charging exorbitant rates from the stranded passengers.
Akhtar has also called for activating different market checking squads to check black-marketing, hoarding and profiteering by unscrupulous shopkeepers and traders who take undue advantage of the weather and road conditions.
Earlier, stranded passengers held protests in bus stand demanding immediate airlifting to Kashmir from Jammu in view of closure of the highway for the past four days.