Bhaderwah, Apr 18: After remaining closed to commuters for over three months owing to snowfall, the strategic 140-km Bhaderwah–Chamba interstate road linking Jammu and Kashmir with Himachal Pradesh was reopened for vehicular traffic on Saturday, officials said.
The road, a key link for interstate connectivity and the tourism sector, was closed after heavy snowfall in the Bhaderwah sector on December 31 last year.
In recent weeks, the authorities began snow-clearing operations, which were carried out by the Mechanical Division Doda and the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, Bhaderwah, officials said.
The traffic, however, will not be allowed between 6 pm and 6 am beyond the Thanala check post from the Bhaderwah side and the Khundi Maral check post from the Chamba (Himachal Pradesh) side, Bhaderwah Additional Deputy Commissioner Sunil Kumar Bhutyal said.
Bhutyal said the road is a major driver of economic activity, as a large number of tourists from Dalhousie and Khajjiar visit Bhaderwah via this route, which, once reopened, also becomes a hub of commercial activity in the region.
Locals, especially those associated with the tourism industry, welcomed the restoration of traffic on the interstate road, saying it would open new avenues for tourism in the region.
“Tourism is the lifeline of the local economy, and the Bhaderwah–Chamba road serves as a catalyst for boosting the tourism sector,” said Rashid Choudhary, a tourism strategist from Bhaderwah.
Imran Wani, a local tourist guide, said many tourists visiting Chamba in Himachal Pradesh also travel to Bhaderwah, and with the reopening of the road, “destinations such as Padri, Khanni Top, Bhal Padri and Jai Valley are expected to witness a renewed influx of visitors.”
