Srinagar, Mar 13: (UNI) Despite improvement in the weather, only one-way traffic will ply on Wednesday on the national highway, connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.
Today traffic will ply from Jammu to Srinagar and no vehicle will be allowed from opposite directions, a traffic police official told UNI this morning.
He said after allowing traffic from Srinagar to Jammu, including allowing stranded vehicles, for two days, we allowed traffic from opposite direction today.
However, to allow free movement of traffic and avoid traffic jam, it has been decided to allo Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) from 0800 hrs to 1300 hrs at Jakheni Udhampur. Later, Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) will be allowed after 1300 hrs, he said adding no vehicle will be allowed after the deadline.
Meanwhile, hundred of Kashmir bound HMVs, including those carrying essentials, are ready to leave valley at Udhampur. Due to frequent closure of the highway, people in the Kashmir valley are facing acute shortage of essentials, particularly fresh vegetable, meat and chicken. The prices of these items have witnessed major increase due to arrival of less essentials as Kashmir is entirely dependent on imports from different states.
Meanwhile, fresh snowfall was reported at several places on Srinagar-Leh national highway, where snow clearance operation has already started from both sides of Zojila pass.
The historic 86-km-long Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch and Anantnag with Kishtwar remained closed since December last year due to accumulation of snow.