Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 6: Srinagar-Leh National Highway, connecting the Ladakh region with Kashmir valley was re-opened for traffic this afternoon after remaining closed for 4 months due to heavy snowfall in Zojila area. The 434-km-long National Highway was closed for traffic last year in December after heavy snowfall.
Chief Engineer Border Roads Organization’s BEACON project, Brigadier R K Sharma after flagging off 140 vehicles from Zojila this afternoon said: “Despite fresh snowfall early this week, we were able to put through the highway for vehicular traffic today.”
Brigadier Sharma said that his men and machinery worked day and night to restore the highway. “Keeping in view the difficulties faced by the people of the region, this year we managed to re-open the highway ahead of the schedule. Last year it was re-open in the fourth week of April but this year we managed to open it in the first week”, he added.
The Brigadier said that Border Roads Organization (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, started the snow clearance operation from both sides of the Zojila pass early last month.
Sharma said that sophisticated snow clearance machines and cutters besides trained men were put into service to make way through six to 10 feet of snow accumulated on the highway between Sonamarg to Meenmarg. “The snow clearance operation was completed last week and this was followed by repair work of the road”, he added.
The road opening ceremony was attended by DSP Trafic Ganderbal, Mohammad Zahid, G N Malla Tehsilar Kangan, Deputy Commissioner Kargil, senior Army officials.
DSP traffic Ganderbal said that more than one hundred light vehicles reached Sonamarag from Ladakh till afternoon and about 175 light vehicles moved from Sonamarag towards Ladakh.
The Station House Officer Sonamarg Mir Afaq said, “Only light vehicles are allowed to proceed ahead from Sonamarag on the road till further orders. However, with the improvement of the road condition and weather heavy vehicles will also be allowed to ply on the highway.”
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