The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday announced complete withdrawal of restrictions on civilian traffic movement between Srinagar and Baramulla.
The restrictions were put in place last month to facilitatemovement of security forces’ convoys on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway(NH-44). “There will be no restriction on movement of civilian traffic fromtomorrow (May2). The civilian traffic movement had been restricted on Wednesdayand Sunday to allow movement of security forces’ convoy,” an official spokesmansaid. However, he said the restrictions would continue between Srinagar andUdhampur on NH-44 as earlier.
The spokesman said, “Local administration will continue tofacilitate movement of civilian traffic as has been happening so far, includingby allowing public transport of JKSRTC to move during the period of restrictionon the National Highway from Udhampur to Srinagar on convoy days (Sunday andWednesday).”
He said that complete review of restrictions on the NH-44would be done subsequently.
It may be recalled that several politicians, includingNational Conference president Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah, andPDP patron Mehbooba Mufti, had staged protests against the state government forimposing the restriction.
The state administration had imposed restriction on civiliantraffic movement after the 14 February Pulwama attack in which 40 paramilitaryCRPF men lost their lives when an explosive laden vehicle hit a bus in theirconvoy.
The government had ordered that no civilian traffic would bethere on Wednesday and Sunday of every week between 4 am to 5 pm.
However, the restriction between Srinagar and Baramulla waslimited to only Sunday from 22 April, 2019.
The state administration spokesman said the government ismonitoring the convoy needs of security forces on real-time basis and makingall attempts to minimise public inconvenience.
He said as indicated earlier, the government is aware of theneeds of citizens and will seek to balance public convenience with requirementsof security forces’ convoys.
“The government has once again reviewed the requirementof security forces. Following the successful conduct of elections in Kulgam andAnantnag districts and as the requirement of security forces is now reducing asthey are de-inducted,” he said.
The government stated that the purpose of these restrictionsis in the larger interest of security of everyone and appealed to the people toextend full cooperation in the smooth regulation of traffic.