Only one way traffic on Kashmir, Ladakh and Mughal road

Srinagar, May 22: Only one-way traffic will continue to ply on the national highways connecting Srinagar with Jammu, Ladakh with Kashmir and historic Mughal road on Wednesday, official sources said.

Meanwhile, Governor administration has announced on Tuesday evening that there will be no ban on civilian traffic movement on the national highway, connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, from the first Sunday of June.

Due to uncertain condition of the road because of sudden landslides and shooting stones, particularly between Ramban and Ramsu, only one-way traffic will continue on Srinagar-Jammu highway, sources told TNN. The Light Motor Vehicles (HMVs) were allowed to move from Jakheni, Udhampur from 0700 hrs to 1100 hrs and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) from 1200 hrs to 1800 hrs. No vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction to avoid traffic jam.

On Tuesday evening, an official spokesman said that the Governor administration has announced to lift Sunday ban on civilian traffic movement on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway from May 27. Therefore , there will be no ban on civilian traffic from June 2 (Sunday).

He said following a review of the security situation in the state and of the requirement of security forces convoys, the Governor has decided to lift the remaining restrictions on civilian movement on the National Highway with effect from Monday.

These restrictions had become necessary following the movement of security forces on an unprecedented scale after the Pulwama fidayeen attack.

The forces were required both for anti-militancy operations and for smooth conduct of general elections. In order to facilitate safe and secure movement of Security Forces’ Convoys, the Government had imposed a prohibition on civilian traffic on the highway from Baramulla to Udhampur twice a week, on Sunday and Wednesday, from 0400 hrs to 1700 hrs.

Elaborate arrangements were, however, made by the local administration to facilitate movement of public during the period of restriction.

Earlier, the restriction on civilian movement between Srinagar and Baramulla on the highway was limited to Sunday only with effect from April 22, 2019 and later completely lifted from May 2, 2019.

Restrictions on the Srinagar -Udhampur stretch were limited to just one day (Sunday) from May 13, 2019, he said.After a detailed review yesterday with all security agencies, civil and police administration in connection with the preparations for the Amarnath Yatra, the Governor directed that there should be no restriction on civilian movement on highway from May 27, 2019.

The Governor thanked the people of the state for cooperating with the measures which were necessitated in the larger interest of the state and for welfare of the people.

A traffic police official told TNN this morning that one-way traffic will continue to ply on historic 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region. Today Kashmir bound traffic will ply on the road, which is seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

However, he said, the LMVs were allowed to move from Behramgalla between 0500 hrs to 0900 hrs followed by HMVs till 1500 hrs. No traffic will be allowed after dead line and from opposite direction, he said.

Today traffic will ply from Kargil to Sonmarg on the highway, the only road linking Ladakh region with Kashmir valley.