Yogesh
Jammu, Sep 9: As the officials of National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) exuded hope that the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway will reopen tonight, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Thard Village in Udhampur on Tuesday and reviewed the ongoing restoration works of the arterial road.
The National Highway connecting Jammu with Srinagar has remained closed for the past eight consecutive days due to major portion of the road getting washed away at Thard.
According to reports, Lieutenant Governor after his arrival at the Thard Village was briefed by RS Yadav, NHAI Regional Officer, J&K on the deployment of men and machinery for speedy restoration of the National Highway.
The Lieutenant Governor was informed that the team is working round the clock and one lane will be open to traffic soon.
Meanwhile, NHAI Project Director Shubham Yadav, said in the evening that critical repair work is in its final stage and the key highway may reopen for general traffic tonight.
He said the closure, triggered by heavy rains and massive landslides, had washed away several portions of the highway—particularly on the Jammu side. “Yesterday’s fresh spell of rain triggered more debris, delaying work this morning. In response, a 250-meter-long temporary road has been carved out at the affected stretch to ensure two-way traffic movement in the coming days,” Yadav said.
He said that while the makeshift passage will provide temporary relief, complete restoration of the original carriageway at the severely-hit stretch will take much longer. “A detailed project report will be prepared for long-term repairs,” he said, adding that work at Udhampur is being closely monitored by senior officials.
“Clear weather since morning allowed uninterrupted work, pushing the project into its final phase. We are hopeful the highway may reopen within hours, finally allowing stranded vehicles to move,” Yadav said.
The prolonged closure of this vital road has disrupted the supply chain in the Valley, leading to acute shortages of food, medicines and fuel. Thousands of vehicles remain stranded on both sides, while commuters have been forced to wade through muddy stretches to reach their destinations.
Traders said that around 800 to 1,000 trucks carrying fruits are stuck on the highway. They said the transportation of produce to outside markets has been badly affected.
The road had briefly reopened for a few hours last month, but fresh blockades forced another shutdown, leaving vehicles stranded once again.
Despite repeated assurances since last Tuesday, the scale of damage kept restoration efforts ineffective until now. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains the lifeline for Kashmir, carrying the bulk of goods and passenger traffic between the Valley and the rest of the country.
