SRINAGAR : The historic Mughal road, connecting south Kashmir with Jammu region through Poonch remained closed today while only down convoy will ply on the highway, linking the valley with the rest of the country.
Traffic on the national highway, the only road linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir also remained through for both ways though vehicles will ply from Srinagar in the morning and Kargil in the afternoon to avoid any accident and traffic jam on Zojila pass.
A traffic police official told that there will be no traffic today on the Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu in view of the maintainance of the highway.
He said it has been decided to allow only one-way traffic on alternate days to ensure safety and security of passengers and for hassle-free movement of the traffic on the road, which was reopened recently after remaining closed for five winter months. There are still huge walls of snow on both sides of the road.
He said there will be no traffic movement once in a week for maintainance of the road. Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Traffic, said the Mughal road will remain operational only for one-way traffic for Light Motor Vehciles (LMVs) due to certain bottlenecks and poor condition of the road.
He said traffic will be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa on alternate days. Traffic official said only one-way traffic was being allowed on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway as the road at some places was still narrow and damaged due to soil erosion and landslides during winter.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highway, has already pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to repair the damaged portion of the road and put it through in view of the Amarnath yatra and tourist season ahead.
Today traffic was allowed from Srinagar to Jammu and no vehicle was allowed from opposite direction. Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Leh national highway, which reopened last week, remained through for both ways. However, vehicles travelling from Srinagar to Kargil and Drass will have to cross the Zojila pass in the morning while vehicles from opposite directions will be allowed in the afternoon.
This decision has been taken to avoid any traffic jam or accident at Zojila pass where there was still about five to ten feet of snow wall on both sides of the road. (AGENCIES)