NH44: HMVs Restricted on Several Stretches; Commuters Asked to Follow Lane Discipline
Srinagar, March 8, KNT: Traffic Police Headquarters Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday issued a traffic plan and advisory for vehicular movement on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) and other major routes for March 9, urging commuters to follow lane discipline and check road status before undertaking travel.
Officials said slow movement was observed on NH-44 from 1600 hours on March 7 to 1600 hours on March 8 due to single-lane traffic between Maroog and Kishtwari Pather, in addition to the breakdown of heavy motor vehicles at some locations.
Authorities advised passenger vehicles and Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) to prefer travel on the Jammu–Srinagar highway during daytime, warning that night travel should be avoided due to the possibility of shooting stones, landslides and ongoing construction work between Ramban and Banihal, which may cause inconvenience.
Traffic officials also cautioned commuters to strictly maintain lane discipline, stating that overtaking and wrong-lane driving often lead to congestion along the highway.
According to the advisory, subject to fair weather and better road conditions, LMVs, passenger vehicles and private cars (including good carrier vehicles) will be allowed to ply on NH-44 from both sides between Jammu and Srinagar. Traffic Control Units (TCUs) at Ramban, Jammu and Srinagar will coordinate movement depending on road conditions.
Regarding security forces convoy movement, officials said that vehicles belonging to security agencies will be allowed to travel from both sides on the highway after confirmation of road status by the Traffic Control Unit at Ramban.
Traffic Police also issued separate directions for other major routes across the region.
On the Kishtwar–Sinthan–Anantnag (NH-244) road, only LMVs and passenger vehicles will be permitted to move from both sides after confirmation of road conditions by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office in Chatroo. These vehicles will travel from PP Parana towards Anantnag between 0900 and 1500 hours, while those heading to Kishtwar will move from Sinthan Top during the same time period.
For the Srinagar–Sonamarg–Gumri road (SSG Road), only LMVs equipped with anti-skid chains will be allowed to travel from Kargil towards Srinagar and Sonamarg after receiving a green signal from traffic control units.
Officials added that if there is an avalanche threat along the Zojila axis, vehicles will be allowed to move from Minamarg towards Srinagar only after receiving clearance from authorities between 1500 and 1800 hours.
Meanwhile, on the Mughal Road, passenger vehicles and LMVs will be permitted to travel from Shopian towards Poonch via Chandimar and Heerpora between 1100 and 1500 hours, subject to favourable weather and road conditions.
Traffic Police advised the public to undertake travel only after confirming the latest road status from the Traffic Control Units in Jammu, Srinagar, Ramban, Udhampur, PCR Kishtwar and PCR Kargil. [KNT]
