Heavy vehicles to ply from Jammu to Srinagar only, LMV from both sides

Srinagar, Sept 14: Heavy vehicles, including those carrying essentials for Kashmir valley, left Jammu this morning as one-way heavy traffic was resumed on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway after two days. However, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will ply from both sides, a traffic police official told UNI. He said only one-way Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) traffic was resumed on the highway, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the valley after two days suspension. However, no heavy vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction, he added. Traffic on the highway was suspended on September 11 evening following landslides at Modh Passi, Udhampur, where the road width is very narrow, causing damage to road and a bridge and other places. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) immediately put into service sophisticated machines and men to put through the highway. However, light vehicle traffic was restored yesterday from both Srinagar and Jammu sides. It was decided not to allow any HMVs from any side yesterday, he said, adding that today HMV traffic was allowed from one side. All the Kashmir-bound stranded heavy vehicles on the highway have also been allowed move, he said. However, no heavy vehicles, including that of Army and other paramilitary forces, would be allowed from Kashmir to Jammu. Heavy vehicles will continue to ply one way only till further orders, he said. Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (Traffic) Jagjit Kumar visited Modh Passi (Udhampur) and other areas of the highway yesterday to access situation aroused due to landslides. During the visit, the officer interacted with the officials of road maintenance agencies concerned 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 highway is ensured at earliest. The officials concerned assured IGP that all the resources will be mobilised and requisite repair work will be expedited. Meanwhile, light vehicular traffic plied on both the sides on historic 86-km-long Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, which has been seen as alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. He said the traffic on Srinagar-Leh national highway, which connects Ladakh region with rest of the state, was also plying normally. UNI