Governor’s administration on Tuesday withdrew an order restricting movement of civilian traffic on the National Highway between Srinagar and Jammu.
An official statement said that following a review of thesecurity situation in the state and of the requirement of security forces’convoys, Governor Satya Pal Malik decided to lift the remaining restrictions oncivilian traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway with effectfrom 27 May (Monday).
The 26 May (Sunday) will be the last day of restriction onthe movement of civilian traffic on the highway.
The state administration had earlier on 7 May reduced thenumber of days from two to one and allowed civilian traffic on Wednesdays.
An official statement said that “these restrictions hadbecome necessary following the movement of security forces on an unprecedentedscale after the Pulwama attack. The forces were required both foranti-militancy operations and for smooth conduct of general elections. In orderto facilitate safe and secure movement of security forces’ convoys, theGovernment had imposed a prohibition on civilian traffic on NH-44 fromBaramulla to Udhampur twice a week, i.e. on Sunday & Wednesday, from 4.00am to 5.00 pm. Elaborate arrangements were, however, made by the localadministration to facilitate movement of public during the period ofrestriction.”
It may be recalled that the government had imposed a 2-dayban on the movement of civilian vehicles on Jammu-Srinagar-Baramulla highway on7 April this year to facilitate the smooth movement of security forces convoys.
These restrictions were lifted in a phased manner. Therestriction on civilian movement between Srinagar and Baramulla on the highwaywas limited to Sunday with effect from 22 April and later completely withdrawnfrom 2 May.
Restrictions on the Srinagar-Udhampur stretch were limitedto just one day from 13 May. “After a detailed review today with allsecurity agencies, civil and police administration in connection with thepreparations for the forthcoming Amarnath yatra, the Governor directed thatthere should be no restriction on civilian movement on the highway from Mondaynext,” the statement said.