Ramban, Apr 23: Srinagar Jammu National Highway, after a complete shutdown for the past four days, was partially opened for one-way traffic to clear the stranded traffic on Wednesday.
Earlier the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah too had directed the administration to facilitate traffic between Srinagar and Jammu allowing vehicles to leave to facilitate safe return of tourists in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack.
In a post on ‘X’, CM Omar had announced that NH-44 between Srinagar and Jammu was reconnected for traffic in a single direction.
“This will have to be done in a controlled and organised way because the road is still unstable in places and we are also working hard to clear all the stranded vehicles. We will not be able to permit completely free movement of vehicles at the moment and we hope that everyone will cooperate with us,” the Chief Minister had posted.
Meanwhile, the officials said that to clear vehicles from Srinagar to Jammu, a temporary arrangement was put in place at a 6 km stretch from Ramban to Maroog through alternate tubes via old (NH) alignment.
In the Seri area, old alignment was made workable while in the case of Maroog-Kela Morh, one tube inside the tunnel was made functional by clearing the debris and removing stuck vehicles. Similarly from Karol to Ramban-Cafeteria Morh upto Mehar, single track was made operational.
“However, this is a temporary arrangement to clear only the stranded vehicles all along the route from Srinagar to Jammu. No fresh vehicles from Qazigund were allowed to cross. Light Motor Vehicles coming from Banihal too were allowed. This temporary one-stretch is being used as an emergency crossing,” they said.
Officials hoped, “In case of fair weather, there is possibility of opening of a bit stabilised one-way stretch. Restoration work is going on 24X7.”
Meanwhile, efforts were being made by the administration to restore power and water supply across the district, where the majority of the areas were reeling under darkness for the past four days and water supply was also badly affected.
