SRINAGAR:Despite rain, the National highway, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, and Srinagar-Leh highway besides historic Mughal road remained open.
However, heavy vehicles will continue to ply on the alternative days on 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway though light vehicles and those carrying Amarnath pilgrims will ply from both sides. Traders, those connected with tourism industry and fruit growers alleged that allowing only one-way (heavy vehicles) has caused loss to their business.
Official sources said despite rain, the national highway, linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, remained open, though road was still narrow and damaged at several places. The highway suffered an extensive damage and remained frequently closed due to landslides and soil erosion during winter months, forcing authorities to allow only one-way traffic.
However, in view of the Amarnath yatra and tourist season, the state government took up the matter with the Central government and Director General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The organisation, responsible for the maintenance of the highway, put into service sophisticated machines and hundreds of labourers but could repair the damaged portion of the road partially. The road is still narrow and damaged at several places, particularly between Ramban and Ramsu. This is for the first time that only one-way traffic for heavy vehicles was being allowed on the highway even during summer. However, light vehicles are plying from both sides though drivers and passengers complained of frequent traffic jams on the highway.
”We are allowing heavy vehicles on alternative days on the highway to avoid any accident and traffic jam,” they said, adding that heavy vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims are however, being allowed from both sides.
Traders, importing almost everything from different parts of the country, including sheep and goats and chicken, have expressed their concern over the partial restoration of the road, claiming that their business has suffered. Traders connected with tourism trade also said their business was affected due to one-way traffic on the highway.
Similar views were expressed by fruit traders who questioned if things will not improve and heavy vehicles are not allowed from both sides when the fruit will be exported? Meanwhile, historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region was also through for traffic.
The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway also remained open. However, vehicles are plying from here to Leh in the morning and Leh to Srinagar in the evening to avoid any traffic jam and accident at Zojila pass.
Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying essentials, being stored at several far-flung and remote areas in Ladakh region, are leaving Kashmir daily. The region remained cut off from Kashmir during winter months due to heavy snowfall. (AGENCIES)
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