A welcome move
The announcement by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) that it has successfully restored two-way traffic movement for heavy motor vehicles on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, ensuring seamless transportation of essential commodities and fruit-laden trucks from the Valley to markets outside is a welcome move.
The announcement has come at a time when fruit laden trucks are running in huge numbers towards various wholesale market outlets across the country. Besides, commuters too are frequently travelling on the highway that is considered as a lifeline for Jammu and Kashmir regions.
Notably, the 250-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was on August 26 blocked by multiple landslides and road sinking at several locations, particularly at Tharad Bridge and Balli Nallah in Udhampur district, and Maroog in Ramban district.
Traffic movement on the highway had been severely disrupted following heavy rainfall, flash floods, and cloudbursts during August and September. The highway was disrupted on August 26 and restored for one-way traffic on September 10 after NHAI swiftly mobilized men and machinery to restore connectivity on a war footing, they said.
After the national highway witnessed frequent closures and traffic halts the economic activity in both Jammu and Kashmir regions suffered a huge hit and transportation of materials and other essentials was hit hard.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has seen tremendous investment for its betterment over the past two decades. Not only was the travel time reduced from 12 hours to mere 4-5 hours but the movement of heavy vehicles also witnessed tremendous ease.
However, the incidents that too place this year exhibited that the highway needs some more planning and improvement at various spots that are vulnerable to landslides and land skidding.
Not only does the highway require regular monitoring and maintenance teams to be deployed along the corridor to ensure smooth and safe travel for all road users, but the vital spots that have proved problematic need to revisited and massive plans to avoid any future slides need to be formulated and implemented speedily.
Jammu as well as Kashmir regions have lot of hopes pinned on the highway as the developmental and economic needs of both the regions are highly dependent on the highway.
Since the union government has been so actively involved in developing this highway into a world class road, the hiccups that have been pestering the travellers need to be addressed immediately.
