Inhabitants of Ramban district have welcomed the decision of the state government to partially withdraw the restrictions on the movement of civilian vehicles on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
J&K government earlier this week announced that therewould be no restriction on the movement of civilian vehicles from Srinagar toUdhampur on the highway on Wednesdays from 13 May onwards but the highway wouldremain closed for civilian traffic on Sundays to facilitate the movement of thesecurity forces. Earlier the highway used to remain closed for civilianvehicles for two days in a week (Sundays and Wednesdays) from Srinagar to Udhampur. Mainstream leaders from Ramban districtespecially National Conference and Congress, traders and civil society members,including elected village representatives had vehemently opposed the impositionof restrictions on the highway. “Restrictions on the movement of civilianvehicles had a huge impact on business and other activities in this hilly andbackward district. We hope government would lift the ban fully in coming days,”they said.