Govt relaxes highway restrictions

The state government on Tuesday further relaxed restrictions on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway by partially lifting the ban on the movement of civilian vehicles between Srinagar-Udhampur stretch.

“The restrictions on civilian traffic in theSrinagar-Udhampur section of the National Highway-44 will be lifted onWednesdays with effect from May 13,” an official statement said.  “The prohibition on civilian traffic inthis stretch would now be only on Sunday(s).”

   

The authorities had earlier relaxed the ban on theSrinagar-Baramulla stretch.

“The Government has been reviewing the restrictions imposedearlier this month on civilian movement on the National Highway (NH-44)connecting Jammu to Srinagar with a view to balancing the security needs ofForces’ Convoys with the need for minimizing public inconvenience. Theserestrictions became necessary following the large movement of security forceson an unprecedented scale after the Pulwama attack,” the statement added. 

“These forces were required both for anti-militancyoperations and for conducting general elections peacefully. In order tofacilitate secure movement of Security Forces’ Convoys, the Government hadimposed a prohibition on civilian traffic on NH-44 from Baramulla to Udhampur twicea week, i.e. on Sunday & Wednesday, from 4.00 am to 5.00 pm. Elaboratearrangements were, however, made by the local administration to facilitatemovement of public during the period of restriction,” it said. “Earlier, therestriction on civilian movement between Srinagar and Baramulla on NH-44 wasreduced only to Sunday w.e.f. 22 April and later completely lifted from May 2.”

“The Government is alive to the needs of citizens and hasonce again reviewed the requirement of security forces. Following thecompletion of elections in Pulwama & Shopian districts and as therequirement of security forces is now reducing, the Government has decided tofurther relax the restrictions,” the statement said.

“The local administration would continue to facilitate movementof civilian traffic on Sundays as has been happening so far, including byallowing public transport of JKSRTC to move during the period of restriction onthe NH. A complete review of remaining restrictions on the highway would bedone subsequently,” it said. “The purpose of these restrictions is in thelarger interest of security of everyone. The government urges people to extendfull cooperation in the smooth regulation of traffic. The restrictions strike abalance between the needs of people and inconvenience caused to them on oneside and the needs of security forces. The restrictions will continue to bereviewed on a real time basis and modifications will be made as necessary inthe coming days,” the statement added.

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