JAMMU: The regular traffic was suspended on Wednesday on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway,due to weekly maintenance and repair of the road, particularly between Nashree and Jawahar tunnel.
Passenger traffic and pedestrian movement remained suspended on the historic 86-km-long Mughal road, which reopened after remaining close since December last year due to accumulation of snow which was cleared last month.
Only Jammu bound load carriers, carrying perishable fruit and vegetables besides empty trucks and oil tankers are allowed to ply.
However, suspension of traffic on the highway resulted in shortage of essentials, particularly fresh vegetables and fruit in the valley, where people are entirely dependent on imports from different northern states.
The UT J&K administration had announced that there will be no traffic on every Wednesday to allow the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to undertake necessary maintenance of the highway. This decision was taken in view of frequent disruption of traffic on the highway due to landslides and shooting stones, particularly after the NHAI started work to convert the highway into four lane, particularly between Nashree and Jawahar tunnel. (AGENCY)