SRINAGAR, JANUARY 31 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Department issued a comprehensive advisory on Saturday, outlining the traffic movement plan for the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) for Sunday.
A senior traffic officer informed the news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) that, subject to fair weather conditions, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs)—including private cars and passenger vehicles—will be permitted to travel from both directions, Jammu towards Srinagar and Srinagar towards Jammu.
However, the officer emphasized a strict advisory against night travel for all commuters due to multiple hazards, including shooting stones, landslides, and ongoing construction work between Ramban and Banihal.
The directives for Sunday's traffic movement are as follows:
Goods carriers and other Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) will be allowed to move only from the Navyug Tunnel (Qazigund side) towards Jammu, following a joint assessment of the road situation by traffic control units. A strict cut-off time of 1600 hours has been imposed, after which no HMV movement will be permitted.
All passengers and LMV operators are strongly advised to plan their journeys only during daytime hours.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelNight travel should be avoided due to safety concerns, including frost formation on the road near the Navyug Tunnel, which creates slippery conditions.
Security forces have been advised to coordinate their movements and to avoid travelling against the traffic plan. Convoys intending to move from Srinagar towards Jammu may do so only after confirming the highway status from the Traffic Control Unit (TCU) in Ramban to prevent congestion.
Commuters have been urged to maintain lane discipline, as overtaking and wrong-side driving are likely to cause severe congestion, particularly on narrow stretches of the highway.
The officer further informed KNS that the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road (NH-244) and the Mughal Road remain closed for vehicular movement due to snow accumulation.
On the Srinagar-Leh axis, LMVs equipped with anti-skid chains may be allowed to travel from Srinagar towards Kargil between 1100 hrs and 1500 hrs, subject to clearance from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and fair weather.
The department has advised all travellers to confirm the latest road status from the concerned Traffic Control Units before commencing their journey. (KNS)