Jammu, Jul 31: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, remained closed for vehicular traffic on Friday to facilitate widening of the carriageway and removal of overhanging debris along the vulnerable Udhampur-Banihal stretch, officials said.
The 250-km highway was shut after a convoy of around 1,600 Amarnath pilgrims left the Jammu base camp for the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir at around 2:42 am, allowing authorities to undertake the scheduled restoration and maintenance works.
According to a traffic advisory issued by the Traffic Police, the movement of all categories of vehicles has been suspended between Jakheni in Udhampur district and the Navyug Tunnel in Banihal of Ramban district to enable widening of the road and clearance of unstable debris at several vulnerable locations.
The closure was ordered following requests from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), with the district administrations of Udhampur and Ramban issuing separate orders to facilitate the works in the interest of public safety.
Officials said the maintenance work includes widening the hillside carriageway at Ladha and Samroli, besides removing loose and overhanging rocks near Gangroo and Kishtwari Pather along the Udhampur-Banihal section of the strategic highway.
The advisory stated that no vehicle would be allowed to proceed beyond Nagrota towards Srinagar, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Patnitop, while traffic from the Kashmir Valley would also not be permitted beyond Qazigund towards Ramban, Udhampur and Jammu during the closure.
However, commuters travelling to Katra, Reasi and Udhampur have been advised to carry valid photo identity cards to facilitate smooth movement through the Nagrota area.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel on the highway until the restoration works are completed and to follow traffic advisories issued by the administration.
