Highway Tube Reopening Soon After Restoration: NHAI Project Director
Srinagar: The heavy landslide on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has caused significant damage, particularly in the Dalwas area near Ramban, where a major retaining wall collapsed.
Reports reaching here said that the incident led to the closure of one tube of the highway, affecting approximately 50 meters of the retaining wall and a substantial portion of the link road to Saoni Panchayat. Consequently, traffic in the area has slowed considerably, prompting authorities to divert vehicles to alternative routes. Local residents reported that the collapse has severely impacted their mobility, as the link road to Saoni Panchayat was also affected. Shubham Yadav, Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India, confirmed that restoration efforts are underway to reopen the closed tube of the highway as soon as possible. As of Friday, passenger vehicles have been allowed to travel in both directions on the highway for the first time in weeks, although freight vehicles are still restricted to one direction, moving from Jammu to Srinagar. Specific travel windows have been established for passenger vehicles, with restrictions on crossing the Banihal Tunnel. Officials noted that the overall condition of the highway remains poor, contributing to slow traffic movement. The ongoing movement of freight convoys and the seasonal migration of Gujjar and Bakarwal communities with livestock further complicate traffic flow on this critical route.
