Highway Issue | No ban on civilian movement: Div Com

Maintaining that there is no ban on movement of civilian traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the J&K government on Wednesday said only regulations are in place at some places to ensure smooth movement of traffic.

Addressing a news conference here, Divisional CommissionerKashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan, said there is no blanket ban on movement of civiliantraffic on the highway.

   

“Some quarters have expressed concern over the matter. Iwant to clarify that there is no ban on movement of civilian traffic butregulations are in place,” he said.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had on Sundaysaid people should bear with highway restrictions.

“People know what has happened on this highway. There arejust two hours of restrictions. This much (people) should bear,” he had saidduring his visit to the transit camp at Pantha Chowk to review the facilitiesmade available for Amarnath pilgrims.

Khan, who was flanked by Inspector General ofPolice-Kashmir-SP Pani, said traffic movement is being regulated duringAmarnath Yatra due to multiple constraints.

“You yourself know condition of the highway. The road onother side of the tunnel is very narrow. Five people were injured due toshooting stones yesterday,” he said, adding that regulations are in place toavoid traffic blockades.

The Divisional Commissioner said restrictions are beingimposed for a very brief and specific period to ensure smooth flow of civiliantraffic movement and yatra convoys.

“It is not a blanket ban. The restrictions are lifted froman area as soon as yatra convoy passes through it,” he said, adding that evenduring restriction period, they are facilitating movement of civilians oncase-to-case basis.

“We have deployed Magistrates and police officers along thehighway to facilitate movement of people during regulation period,” he added.

Echoing Khan, the IGP Pani said regulations are in place dueto condition of the road and security environment. “The capacity of the roadfor volume of traffic on other side of the Jawahar tunnel is not same as thatof this side of the tunnel. If traffic movement is left unregulated it willcause congestion. So time slots have been worked out to ensure smooth movementof all types of traffic,” he said.

The IGP said there is no restriction on local movement inKashmir and people can go wherever they want.

To a question, the IGP said regulations were also in placeduring yatra period in the past two years but “there could be difference oftimeline between the present and previous regulations,” he added.

The Amarnath Yatra began on July 1 and will end on August15.

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