With no security movement scheduled, civilian traffic allowed on Kashmir highway

With no movement of security convoy scheduled during the day, civilian traffic was allowed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway Wednesday, when it was supposed to be used exclusively by forces under an official order, authorities said.

On April 7, it was announced that the 270-km highway will beoff-limits for civilian traffic twice a week — Wednesday and Sunday — from 4am to 5 pm till May 31 to facilitate smooth movement of security convoys.

   

The order came following a deadly attack in Pulwama on February14, which left 40 CRPF personnel dead.

The restrictions drew strong criticism from various quartersespecially political parties, civil society and business community in theValley.

“Normal traffic was allowed on the highway from Jammuto Srinagar this morning after the nodal agency, the CRPF, telephonicallyinformed that there will be no movement of security convoy during theday,” a traffic department official told PTI.

However, he said a landslide hit the highway at Anokhi fallnear Ramban around 7 am which was cleared within two hours by the roadclearance agency to ensure smooth movement of traffic.

The landslide was triggered by rains which lashed wide partsof Jammu and Kashmir including the highway Tuesday, he said.

“The traffic is moving smoothly when last reports werereceived,” the official said, adding no vehicle was allowed from theopposite direction in view of the one-way restrictions which are in force dueto the ongoing work on the four-laning project.

The traffic on the highway plies alternatively from thecapital cities of Jammu and Srinagar to ensure smooth movement of the vehicles.

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