Ramban Sep 15: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained partially open on Monday with authorities permitting only one-way traffic at Tharad in Udhampur district.
Only Jammu-bound vehicles are being allowed to ply, and even that under strict regulation due to the narrow, single-lane passage and the severely uneven road surface.
A problematic 250-300 meter stretch at Tharad continues to pose serious challenges to vehicular movement.
Traffic officials deployed at Chenani said that while fruit-laden trucks stranded for days were allowed to move towards Jammu, the movement was slow and cautious due to the road’s muddy and undulating condition.
Restoration work is ongoing at Tharad and other vulnerable points between Udhampur and Chenani.
Despite the poor road conditions, authorities are trying to maintain controlled traffic flow and clear the backlog of stranded vehicles.
After three days of complete disruption, some fruit-laden trucks that had been parked at Nashri, Chanderkote, and Ramban were finally permitted to move.
However, hundreds of trucks remain stranded between the Nashri and Banihal sectors, awaiting clearance.
The partial reopening of the highway has brought some relief to areas including Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Kashmir.
Essential supplies, including petroleum, LPG cylinders, and food items, have begun trickling into these regions.
Traders in Ramban confirmed that after a 16-day blockade, some supplies have reached their district.
However, severe shortages of fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and poultry persist across markets in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Kashmir.
The supply chain has been disrupted due to heavy monsoon rains, frequent landslides, and inadequate road infrastructure.
The stretch between Udhampur and Chenani – recently upgraded at significant expense by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways through the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) – remains a major bottleneck.
While the highway is being widened from two to four lanes, construction work is progressing at a snail’s pace.
Sham Lal, a shopkeeper from Pul Doda, expressed concern over prolonged shortages.
He said that even the Batote-Kishtwar Highway remained shut on several occasions due to landslides, further severing the supply routes to Doda and Kishtwar.
Residents across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh – who depend heavily on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway – have appealed to the Centre and NHAI for immediate restoration and repair of damaged stretches, especially between Lakhanpur-Madhopur and Udhampur-Banihal.
They urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union MoS in PMO, Jitendra Singh, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and expedite road repair and landslide clearance operations.
People also demanded a complete realignment of the Udhampur to Chenani and Nashri to Banihal sectors, emphasising the need for proper soil testing, engineering surveys, and construction of durable infrastructure, including retaining walls along the Tawi River, more bridges and viaducts, and effective drainage systems to divert rainwater and prevent road damage during the monsoon.
An engineer from Ramban pointed out major loopholes in the current design and alignment of the highway, particularly from Udhampur to Banihal.
Residents blamed NHAI and its contractors for failing to implement effective engineering solutions.
At the same time, locals appreciated the quality of the highway constructed between Jammu to Udhampur and Srinagar to Qazigund, and urged similar standards for the more vulnerable Chenab region sectors.
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is not just a lifeline for Kashmir, but also for the districts of Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar.
Ensuring its all-weather connectivity is critical to preventing future humanitarian and economic crises in the region.
An Engineer of NHAI monitoring road restoration work at Tharad said heavy trucks carrying essential supplies and fruits were being allowed to cross the stretch on a rotational basis at Tharad, Samroli area of Udhampur.
Meanwhile, hundreds of fruit-laden heavy vehicles released from Qazigund are still stranded in long queues waiting for a green signal from traffic authorities in Ramban and other places.
