The Srinagar-Jammu highway was thrown open for one-way traffic from Sunday. This is to clear the stranded vehicles on the road on both sides.
The state’s traffic department has been allowing only one-way movement on the strategically important road, as a result of the damage caused to it due to the exceptionally harsh winter this year. The recurrent snowfall has often closed the road and also caused landslides. It has taken the department days to clear the road or repair the damaged parts.
The road has come under landslides at many stretches from Banihal to Ramban and at places like Battery Chashma, Gagroo and Anokhi Falls. This has caused frequent blockades.
Jammu- Srinagar highway is the Kashmir Valley’s only viable surface connection with the rest of the country.
This winter has witnessed frequent snowfall and rains in Kashmir, leading to recurrent closure of the all-important highway. This created scarcity of essentials in the Valley, also raising the cost of goods.
Even though weather has improved from Sunday, the state’s Meteorological department has forecast a fresh spell of rain and snowfall in the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday.
