Despite rain, Kashmir Highway through for one-way traffic, Mughal road closed

Srinagar: Despite rain, the national highway, connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, was through for one-way traffic and vehicles will ply from Jammu to Srinagar for two days from today in view of the Darbar Move.

However, traffic on historic Mughal Road, which was opened earlier this week, after remaining closed for winter months, has been suspended as a precautionary measure due to snowfall at Peer Ki Gali.

A traffic police official said that despite intermittent rain since last night, the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was through for traffic.

However, he said today and tomorrow, traffic will ply from Jammu to Srinagar in view of Darbar Move, shifting of Seat of the Government, including the offices of the Chief Minister, her Cabinet colleagues and bureaucrats, from winter capital to this summer capital.

The Civil Secretariat closed offices in Jammu yesterday and will reopen in Srinagar on May 8.

He said hundreds of vehicles carrying passengers, including Darbar Move employees and important official records left Jammu for Srinagar early this morning.

“One-way movement of traffic from Jammu towards Srinagar would also be in place on May 6 and 7 to ensure hassle-free movement of vehicles carrying Darbar move employees and important official records,” he added.

The traffic official said that the authorities and Mughal road development authority have started snow clearance operation at Peer Ki Gali so that vehicular movement is restored on Mughal Road, connecting Shopian in South Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region.

Meanwhile, 434-km-long national highway, linking Ladakh region with Kashmir, besides roads connecting dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), still remained closed though authorities have started snow clearance operations.