After remaining closed for six consecutive days, the 270-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was reopened for traffic on Thursday. The highway had been closed after a large portion of road had caved in due to a landslide at Dalwas near Ramban last Friday.
Senior Traffic Police officials said the traffic on thehighway was restored at 11 am today and more than 300 stranded trucks carryingessential goods to the Valley were allowed to move. “The traffic has been restored partially andtrucks continue to move towards Srinagar,” said Deputy Superintendent ofPolice, Traffic (Highway), Ajay Anand.
Anand said the movement of the traffic was slow as there wasonly a temporary motorway made along the portion of the road that had caved inat Dalwas near Ramban.
He said around 1500 trucks were still stranded on thehighway at various places between Udhampur and Ramban but were being allowed tomove now. “Right now our priority is to ensure movement of trucks laden withessential goods. We have not allowed any fresh traffic on the highway today toensure that stranded trucks are given the passage,” Anand said.
Officials said the reconstruction of the caved-in road willcontinue for next few days “till it is made completely travel-worthy”.
Meanwhile, a traffic advisory issued by the Traffic Policesaid only heavy motor vehicles carrying essential goods will be allowed to moveon the highway on Friday. “Subject to fair weather and good road condition,only essential commodity laden vehicles will be allowed to move on thehighway,” the advisory read.
Price hike
As the highway remained closed for last six days, prices ofessential goods in Valley have seen significant increase.
People from different areas complained that even as theywere already facing tough situation due to COVID19 outbreak, the prices offruits and vegetables have gone up suddenly in Kashmir.
“Potatoes are being sold at Rs 40 to 50 a KG; beans Rs 120 akg; and similar is the case with other vegetables and fruits,” the consumersfrom different areas complained.
Referring to sudden price hike and quoting prices of variousvegetables, a Srinagar-based journalist wrote on Twitter: “Is anybodylistening?”
However, officials said they were ensuring that markets didnot run short of supplies. The officials said, “Stocks are being replenished astruckloads of essential commodities are reaching the Valley after almost oneweek.”