Ramban, Aug 4: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open on Tuesday for the scheduled two-way movement of the AmarnathYatra convoy and regulated two-way traffic of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles after weather conditions improved and no rainfall was reported along the Udhampur-Chenani sector.
Despite the improvement in weather, commuters continued to face long delays due to damaged, uneven, and single-lane road stretches at Dewal near Samroli in Udhampur district and between Maroog and KishtwariPather in Ramban district.
Traffic congestion persisted between Udhampur and Chenani, particularly near the landslide-prone Dewal stretch, where vehicles moved slowly under the regulation of the Traffic Police.
The affected stretch was restored after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) carried out extensive repair work on Monday evening by filling damaged portions of the carriageway with stones and restoring the road surface.
Recent monsoon rains had rendered the Dewal stretch highly slushy, muddy, and dangerously slippery, forcing the Traffic Police to suspend vehicular movement from both the Srinagar and Jammu sides on several occasions to facilitate urgent restoration works.
Men, machinery, and heavy equipment of the NHAI, along with Traffic Police personnel, have remained deployed at the Dewal stretch since June 18 to undertake continuous road repairs and regulate traffic through the vulnerable section.
Although the highway has been reopened, traffic is still being regulated on the damaged single-lane stretch, resulting in long queues of vehicles during peak hours.
Officials said the Dewal stretch continues to remain highly vulnerable because of unstable hill slopes, damaged road surface, and the possibility of fresh landslides during rainfall. Traffic is therefore being allowed in a regulated manner to ensure the safety of commuters.
Authorities have also continued restrictions on local inter-district movement after the passage of the AmarnathYatra convoy. Only commuters carrying valid photo identity cards are being permitted to proceed beyond the notified cut-off timings after verification.
The Traffic Police have advised passengers travelling towards Srinagar to use the old Jawahar Tunnel road to avoid congestion and security checks at Lamber, Banihal.
Likewise, commuters travelling to Batote, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, and adjoining areas have been advised to use the Patnitop route from Jammu.
Passengers operating LMVs have been urged to undertake journeys only during daylight hours in view of the continued threat of landslides, shooting stones, and ongoing four-laning works between Ramban and Banihal.
Heavy vehicles carrying fruits, vegetables, livestock, and other perishable commodities have been directed to strictly follow the movement schedule issued by the Traffic Police Headquarters, as heavy vehicles are presently being allowed on alternate days.
Fruit growers and transporters from Kashmir have also been instructed to park their vehicles at designated locations between the 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 traffic was being regulated in coordination with the NHAI to ensure the safe movement of vehicles through the vulnerable stretches between Udhampur and Chenani.
Over the past two weeks, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has witnessed repeated disruptions due to incessant monsoon rains, triggering landslides, mudslides, shooting stones, and flash floods at several locations between Udhampur, Ramban, and Banihal. Although major restoration works have enabled the reopening of the highway, vulnerable stretches continue to require constant monitoring and periodic repairs.
Heavy vehicles were also allowed to move towards Kashmir during the afternoon. However, traffic continued to move slowly, with long queues reported near the landslide-prone Samroli-Dewal stretch as authorities managed vehicular movement through the damaged single-lane section.
