Civil traffic resumes on Kashmir highway after day-long ban

Srinagar: Civilian traffic was resumed on Monday after day long ban due to “ Convoy Day” on Sunday on the national highway, connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, official sources said here this morning.
Meanwhile, only one-way traffic will ply on national highway, linking Ladakh region with Kashmir and historic 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region.
No civilian traffic was allowed on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Sunday, when only security force convoy were allowed to ply. The authorities had imposed ban on civilian traffic on the highway twice in a week on Sunday and Wednesday to allow free and safe movement of security forces after 44 CRPF personnel were killed in a fidayeen attack at Awantipora in February this year. But authorities lifted Wednesday ban on the highway. However, the ban evoked sharp reaction from leaders of almost all mainstream parties besides separatists, traders, transporters and common people who alleged that life of people living on both sides of the highway is badly affected.
Today we allowed civilian traffic on the highway and vehicles will ply from Jammu to Srinagar, they said adding no vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction. However, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will have to cross Jakheni, Udhampur between 0700 hrs to 1100 hrs, they said adding later Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) will be allowed upto 1500 hrs from Udhampur. No vehicle will be allowed after the deadline, sources said.
Only one-way traffic will continue to ply on historic Mughal road, seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu highway as it connects Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region. Today vehicles will ply from Rajouri and Poonch to Kashmir, they said adding vehicles have to cross Behramgalla between 0500 hrs to 1500 hrs.
Today traffic will ply from Leh  to Srinagar on the highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir. LMVs will have to cross Minimarg between 0700 hrs to 1000 hrs and HMVs from 1000 hrs to 1300 hrs for Kashmir. Only one-way traffic will be allowed on the highway till further orders, he said.