Srinagar, Dec 3 (UNI) One-way traffic was restored on historic 86-km-long Mughal road after remaining suspended for nine days due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions, a traffic police official said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, only one-way traffic continued on 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway and 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway.
“Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, was on Wednesday reopened for traffic after remaining closed for nine days due to accumulation of several feet of snow,” he said.
He said the traffic on the historic road, which is seen as an alternative to Kashmir highway, was restored after clearance of several feet of snow.
However, he said only trucks, carrying fresh fruits and vegetables, will be allowed from Shopian in south Kashmir to Poonch in Jammu region between 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs. “No vehicle will be allowed after the cutoff timing,” he said, adding no passenger vehicle will be allowed on the Mughal road.
Meanwhile, hundreds of vehicle left Jammu for Srinagar on Kashmir highway, the only all weather road connecting the valley with the rest of the country.
However, he said Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) had to cross Nagrota Jammu between 0500 hrs to 1100 hrs and Jakheni Udhampur between 0600 hrs to 1200 hrs, adding no vehicle will be allowed after the deadline. “Security force vehicles are also advised to ply from Jammu to Srinagar,” he said.
He said today traffic will ply from Srinagar to Ladakh on Leh highway, connecting Ladakh with Kashmir valley. “Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will have to pass Sonamarg between 1100 hrs and 1400 hrs followed by Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs).
No vehicle will be allowed after cut off timing or from opposite direction, he said, adding security force vehicles will have to follow same schedule.
He said the authorities had to use salt and urea to melt the frozen road at several places, including Zojila pass, Zero point, Meenmarg and India Gate before allowing traffic on the Srinagar-Leh national highway. “Drivers were advised to carry anti-skid chains to gain more grip on the slippery road,” he added.
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