Ramban, Dec 24: Vehicular movement was disrupted for several hours in the Hingni area of Ramsu on the ever-busy Srinagar Jammu National Highway where a portion of the road was damaged on Sunday morning.
However, it was partially restored for traffic movement late this afternoon.
Officials said both sides of traffic were halted for six hours at Hingni in Ramsu due to road widening and restoration work on the recommendation of NHAI.
“Srinagar Jammu National Highway has been partially restored after the concerned agency of NHAI prepared a safe single-lane road in the Hingni area of Ramsu late Sunday afternoon,” traffic officials said.
They said that the stranded road traffic between Nashri and Banihal was being cleared on a priority basis.
“Vehicular traffic was suspended from both sides on the Srinagar Jammu National Highway this morning after a portion of the road was damaged and a bottleneck was created at Hingni between Ramsu and Banihal,” officials informed.
They said, “Later, entire road traffic was stopped at Hingni due to road widening and restoration work on the recommendation of NHAI.”
An NHAI official said that after working for the whole day, a single-lane safe road was prepared, adding that efforts were being made to make the road double-lane at the damaged stretch of the road at Hingni in Ramsu on National Highway-44.
Officials said that normal traffic would resume on National Highway-44 after clearing the stranded traffic between Udhampur and Qazigund.
“People are advised not to travel on NH-44 on Monday without confirmation from Traffic Control Units at Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur and Ramban,” they said.
Sources said the portion of the road had started sinking a few days ago after a four-lane construction company Ceigall, engaged by NHAI, started the excavation work for erecting piers for Ramsu-Gangroo-Nachalna flyover in Bisleri Nullah, alongside the road at Hingni.
They said initially the road stretch developed cracks however the highway remained open for one-way traffic at Hingni.
On Sunday morning, a part of the road stretch was damaged at Hingni which forced the authorities to halt the traffic movement on the ever-busy Srinagar Jammu National Highway (NH 44).
Later, District Magistrate Ramban’s office received a communication from Project Director NHAI, PIU Ramban with a requisition for haltage of traffic on NH-44 for widening of the road in Hingni.
“To ensure the safety and well-being of the general populace, travellers and drivers, sanction was granted in favour of NHAI, PIU Ramban, for taking four hours of traffic halting from (11.30 am to 3.30 pm) on Sunday,” officials said.
They said that the road traffic between Jammu and Srinagar was stopped at different locations.
“Traffic was stopped at Jakhani, Udhampur, Chenani-Nashri tunnel, Banihal, Qazigund and other safer places. The concerned road maintenance agency NHAI has pressed its men and machinery into service to develop a single-lane road stretch into two lanes at Hingni.
For this purpose, four excavators or earthmovers were pressed into service for the excavation of the hillock at Hingni in Ramsu,” they informed.
Hundreds of passenger vehicles, including Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles were stopped at various locations between Jammu and Srinagar and were allowed to move to their respective destinations this evening.
Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police National Highway Ramban, Rohit Baskotra was personally monitoring traffic regulations at Hingni in Ramsu on Sunday evening. He said NH-44 was still one way at Hingni-Ramsu in Ramban district and the commuters were advised to follow lane discipline and avoid unnecessary travel, especially during night hours.