Ramban, Aug 8: Despite fresh spells of rainfall, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open on Saturday for regulated two-way movement of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) with heavy vehicles also being allowed to move towards Kashmir from Jammu as per the traffic management plan.
Traffic, however, remained slow at several vulnerable locations, particularly the nearly 40-metre damaged stretch at Dewal-Samroli in Udhampur district and the Maroog-Kishtwari Pather stretch in Ramban district, where restoration and four-laning works are underway.
Fresh rainfall resulted in slush, muddy conditions and an uneven road surface, making the movement of vehicles slow and cautious between Udhampur and Chenani.
The Traffic Police and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) continued joint efforts to regulate traffic and keep the damaged single-lane portions motorable.
Officials said the Dewal-Samroli stretch requires continuous maintenance as potholes and eroded portions of the carriageway are repeatedly being repaired with stones and construction material.
Monsoon rainfall has further aggravated the situation, causing slush and slippery conditions and occasionally requiring temporary regulation of traffic to facilitate restoration work.
NHAI has deployed machinery, engineers, and maintenance personnel at the vulnerable locations, while Traffic Police personnel are regulating vehicular movement and assisting commuters.
Although restoration work has improved the road condition, vehicles continue to pass through the damaged single-lane sections in a controlled manner, resulting in queues during peak hours.
The authorities have cautioned that the affected stretches remain vulnerable to further damage due to unstable hill slopes, rainfall, landslides, and shooting stones.
Vehicular movement is being regulated with due regard to commuter safety.
Officials said restrictions on local inter-district movement also continue at designated points following the passage of the Amarnath Yatra convoy.
Commuters are being permitted beyond the cut-off points after verification of valid photo identity cards by security personnel.
The Traffic Police has advised motorists travelling towards Srinagar to use the old Jawahar Tunnel road to avoid congestion and security checks at Lamber and Banihal. Commuters travelling from Jammu towards Batote, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, and adjoining areas have been advised to use the Patnitop route.
Passengers travelling in LMVs have been advised to undertake journeys during daylight hours in view of the continuing risk of landslides, shooting stones, and ongoing four-laning works along the Ramban-Banihal corridor.
Heavy vehicles carrying fruits, vegetables, livestock, and other perishable commodities have been directed to strictly adhere to the movement schedule issued by Traffic Police Headquarters.
Such vehicles are being permitted on alternate days, while fruit growers and transporters from Kashmir have been advised to park their vehicles at designated locations between Navyug Tunnel and Levdoora before 9 am on the notified day to facilitate smooth traffic management.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Ramban, Raja Adil Hameed, said that the highway remained open for regulated two-way traffic and that necessary traffic management measures were being implemented to ensure the safe movement of commuters.
The highway has witnessed repeated disruptions over the past two weeks due to persistent monsoon rainfall, which triggered landslides, mudslides, flash floods, and shooting stones at several locations between Udhampur, Ramban, and Banihal.
Sustained restoration and maintenance efforts by NHAI and other agencies have helped keep the strategic highway operational.
However, several vulnerable stretches continue to require close monitoring, regular maintenance, and strict traffic regulation to ensure safe and uninterrupted connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country.
