SRINAGAR: Despite prediction of light to moderate snow and rain from Friday, hundreds of vehicles left Srinagar for Jammu as one-way traffic continued on the national highway, connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.
However, the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway remained closed for the past about a month due to accumulation of snow which has now frozen. Meanwhile, historic 86-km-long Mughal road has been closed for winter months by the authorities due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions.
Only one-way traffic would continue to ply on 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, keeping in view the road conditions,? a police official said.
Traffic will ply from Srinagar to Jammu, he said, adding no vehicle, including security force convoy, would be allowed from opposite direction. He said both Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) will be allowed on the highway though with some restrictions.
LMVs will have to pass Pantha Chowk in Srinagar between 0500 hrs to 1200 hrs, he said, adding the vehicles will have to pass Levdora in Qazigund upto 1400 hrs.
He said HMVs and load carriers will have to pass Levdora in Qazigund between 1300 hrs to 1900 hrs. No vehicle will be allowed to pass these areas after cut off timings.
The commuters are advised not to travel during night hours. No movement of any type of vehicle shall be allowed from opposite direction. People are advised to undertake journey on the highway only after confirming status of the road, he added.
Meanwhile, the national highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir, remained closed for the past about one month due to accumulation of snow, particularly on Zojila pass.
The road remained slippery due to frozen snow and there is no possibility of resuming traffic on the highway before March, official sources said. The Government of India (GoI) has already sanctioned to construct a tunnel to make it all weather road.
Traffic has been suspended for winter months on historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region. (AGENCIES)
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