 Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 16: One-way traffic for vehicles carrying fruit and essential commodities was resumed on 86-km-long historic Mughal road after remaining suspended for about six months due to accumulation of snow.
An official spokesman said, no passenger traffic will be allowed on the road which connects Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region.
Interestingly for J&K traffic police, the road is still closed due to snow.
Fruit growers supported by several political parties were demanding immediate reopening of the Mughal road alleging that Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained frequently closed due to landslides and other problems badly hitting transportation of fruit to mandis across the country.
On Tuesday, vehicles carrying essentials will ply from Shopian to other side of the Pir-ki-Gali, he said adding vehicular traffic exclusively for transportation of fresh fruits, includig Cherry, Peach, Plum, Apricot to outside State. “No vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction,” he said.
However, he said the timing of the movement of trucks would be from 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs. “The instruction for truckers said it shall be ensured that vehicles should be preferably 4×4 or mechanically sound and vehicles should not be overloaded and should carry load as per permissible tonnage. Drivers driving the vehicles shall be experienced and familiar with the said hilly road. Each vehicle shall have one driver and a conductor only,” the order said.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole has ordered the district administration Shopian to establish a health checkup centre on the road. The district authorities would also consider weather advisory on a daily-basis before allowing the traffic movement, while all advisories regarding mitigation of COVID-19 would also be adhered to in letter and spirit.
Traffic on the road, which is seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway, was suspended in December last year due to heavy snowfall, particularly at Dubjan, Aliabad, Pir-ki-Gali and Bafliaz. Though snow clearance was started from both sides of Pir-ki-Gali but due to COVID-19 pandemic it was hampered.
After protests by fruit growers, snow clearance operation was intensified and road was put through though huge snow walls could be still seen on both sides of the road.
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