Stranded trucks also allowed to move along partially restored traffic on highway

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 13: As the traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was partially restored, all the light motor vehicles as well as  some trucks  on way from Srinagar to Jammu were today allowed to move on the bridge at Modh Passi near Udhampur, which got damaged due to massive landslide on last Monday.
All the light motor vehicles on both sides were released in a regulated manner while some stranded trucks, including loaded ones, were also allowed to cross the bridge in a controlled manner i. e. with a speed less than 20 kms per hour and one vehicle at a time with constant monitoring.
Maximum of the stranded trucks have also been cleared as the no settlement was noticed in any part of the bridge during controlled movement of heavy vehicles.
IGP Traffic Jagjit Kumar also visited the site at Modh Passi and other areas of the NHW today to access situation aroused due to landslides. During the visit, he interacted with the officials of concerned road maintenance agencies engaged in the restoration work, especially at Modh Passi.
IGP stressed on the road maintenance agencies for speedy restoration of work so that smooth flow of traffic on the NHW is ensured at earliest. The concerned officials assured IGP that all the resource will be mobilized and requisite repair work will be expedited.
SSP Udhampur and SSP Traffic, NHW accompanied the IGP during the visit.
At the same time, work on the creation of an alternate route near the damaged bridge is going on war footing by the Gammon India Ltd, which is creating a diversion on the valley side.
According to a spokesman of the Gammon India Ltd, around 50 meters long diversion is being created by filling earth in 20 meters deep valley and it will take around three-four days to complete the work.
Meanwhile, as per Traffic plan for Thursday, issued late evening by the authorities,   movement of only stranded HMVs (except trailers/multi-axle vehicles) shall be allowed from Udhampur towards Srinagar on 14.09.2017, strictly on trial basis and in a very regulated manner, depending on weather/road condition.  Movement of these vehicles shall be allowed from Udhampur from 0800 hours upto 1400 hours only, beyond which no movement of HMVs shall be allowed from the said location.
Movement of passenger vehicles on the NHW shall be allowed both ways tomorrow, in a very strict and regulated manner. Under the said plan, movement of passenger vehicles shall be allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) from 0500 hours upto 1000 hours and from Udhampur upto 1100 hours only.
Similarly, the movement of passenger vehicles shall be allowed from Levdora (Qazigund) from 1000 hours and all these vehicles shall cross Jawahar Tunnel by 1500 hours positively. No movement of any Jammu bound passenger vehicle shall be allowed from Pantha Chowk, Srinagar after 1300 hours, to avoid congestion on the NHW.
Moreover, the commuters have been advised to exhibit highest order of driving discipline and avoid overtaking and doubling on the NHW so that there is no jamming and congestion on the NHW.
No movement of Load Carriers, including convoys of Army, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB etc shall be allowed from the opposite side (Srinagar and Doda/Kishtwar) towards Jammu on 14.09.2017 under any circumstances in order to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the NHW.
People have been requested to undertake journey on the National Highway after confirming status of the road from TCUs as the chances of occurring of sudden land slides on the NHW cannot be ruled out.