Srinagar, Dec 21 (KNS): As authorities allow only one-way traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway these days, due to narrowness of the road, traffic plies in opposite direction from Banihal railway station resulting in massive jams.
Reports said the day traffic plies from Jammu to Srinagar, the passengers from Kashmir travel by train upto Banihal, where from they board cabs and buses to reach to Jammu. There is no check from Banihal as the cab drivers hoodwink the traffic officials by saying they have to ply on local routes and not travel to Jammu.
A senior traffic official told KNS that it was difficult to stop the traffic coming in opposite direction as local traffic is allowed to move on the both directions. “Under the garb of travelling to local route, the cab and bus drivers ferry passengers from Banihal to Jammu which causes huge problems for the traffic coming in opposite direction,” he said.
Due to frequent snowfall and rains, the condition of the 270-km long highway has worsened, especially on Banihal to Ramban patch. Eyewitnesses told KNS that at several places, there is space for only one vehicle to travel at a time.
When the traffic comes in the opposite direction, in no time, hundreds of vehicles accumulate at one stretch resulting in traffic jams for hours, they said.
Reports said from the last 10-days hundreds of trucks were stranded from Qazigund to Lower Munda and they were not being allowed to move forward. A truck driver told KNS over phone that they are at loss to understand as to why they are not being allowed to move.
“We are now facing shortage of ration as it has been 10-days since we are held up here,” he said.
The traders have also expressed concern over the issue saying supplies coming from outside Kashmir were getting hampered due to stopping of trucks for days together.
The commuters have appealed to the traffic higher ups to devise a foolproof mechanism so that one-way traffic plies smoothly on the highway. (KNS)