Umaisar Gull Ganaie
Udhampur, Sep 06: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, on Saturday said the restoration work of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is going on at a war footing basis and it is expected to reopen within two days.
In a post on X, Dr Singh, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “Road restoration in the district is progressing fast! Out of 400 damaged roads, over 50% have already been restored, and many more will reopen soon.”
He said, “Restoration work of the National Highway is going on despite constant rain and adverse weather conditions. It is expected to be operational soon—maybe in one or two days—depending on how favorable the weather remains to ensure speedy work.”
The Jammu-Srinagar Highway in Udhampur has remained shut for more than ten days after it was badly damaged in the district.
According to the officials an early morning downpour on Saturday derailed the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) efforts to restore traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway today. “Efforts are on at a war footing to clear the 250-metre stretch of the highway at Thard in Udhampur district which was buried under a hill,” said an official, adding, “What we had gained during the day on Friday was washed away by intense half-an-hour rainfall this morning. We have mobilised the men and machinery and started the work afresh to ensure early reopening of the arterial road as soon as possible.”
Jatinder Singh, Deputy Superintendent (DySP)-Traffic Udhampur-Reasi Range, said men and machinery are at work to restore the highway and blasting is being carried out on the stretch. “The work to restore the highway is underway. NHAI is doing their job so that people will not struggle to cross the highway on foot, and single-way traffic for small vehicles will be restored soon,” he said.
It may be recalled that the highway was closed for traffic amid heavy rain across the Jammu division early this week, following multiple landslides, mudslides and shooting stones from the hillocks overlooking the road besides washing away of road patches at different places between Udhampur and Banihal.
The closure of the highway left hundreds of vehicles, mostly trucks, stranded on both sides, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Mughal Road — an alternate link connecting Poonch and Rajouri districts with south Kashmir’s Shopian district — is open for light motor vehicles.
The Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road, another alternate link, remained closed for the fourth day despite a massive road clearance operation—(KNO)
