Highway crisis

After the traders and other stakeholders in Kashmir Valley raised alarm against the losses they have been suffering because of the frequent closure of highway from Jammu to Srinagar, the authorities have decided to ease the restrictions and have taken slew of measures for the streamlining of highway traffic. The traders have accused the authorities of inflicting heavy losses on them and this frequent closure of highway has also resulted in price rise in Kashmir Valley especially in the holy month of Ramadan.

The Government has been reviewing the restrictions imposed earlier this month on civilian movement on the National Highway (NH-44) connecting Jammu to Srinagar with a view to balancing the security needs of Forces’ Convoys with the need for minimizing public inconvenience.  These restrictions became necessary following the large movement of security forces on an unprecedented scale after the Pulwama attack. These forces were required both for anti-militancy operations and for conducting general elections peacefully.

Earlier, the restriction on civilian movement between Srinagar and Baramulla on NH-44 was reduced only to Sunday w.e.f. 22-04-2019 and later completely lifted w.e.f. from 2-5-2019.  The Government is alive to the needs of citizens and has once again reviewed the requirement of security forces. Following the completion of elections in Pulwama & Shopian districts and as the requirement of Security Forces is now reducing; the Government has decided to further relax the restrictions on traffic imposed earlier

The authorities will have to listen to the voices from Kashmir especially from the traders who have asked the Governor to hold a joint meeting so that they can confront the traffic authorities of how they were inflicting losses to them by stopping the truck loads of essential commodities to Kashmir. The frequent highway closure has also now resulted in the effort of the administration to use Mughal road as an alternative route for the fruit growers to sent their items in case there any disruption on Jammu Srinagar highway.