Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Jan 31: Traffic on the Zojila Pass section of the Srinagar–Kargil National Highway was restored on Saturday after being suspended for several days due to heavy snowfall.
An official said that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) undertook intensive snow-clearance operations, clearing up to four feet of accumulated snow and reopening the strategic high-altitude route much earlier than usual.
The highway, which connects Srinagar with Ladakh, had been closed as a precautionary measure after fresh snowfall between January 22 and 27 blocked the stretch.
The BRO teams began clearance operations once weather conditions improved, and traffic was gradually restored from the Kargil side.
Authorities advised motorists to carry anti-skid chains and exercise caution due to slippery conditions.
In another major achievement, the BRO restored connectivity along the 112-kilometre Kishtwar–Sansari road, linking Doda’s Kishtwar Valley with Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul–Spiti region.
A BRO spokesperson said the 118 Road Construction Company of the 35 Border Roads Task Force, under Project Sampark, cleared nearly 3.5 feet of snow within 72 hours, reopening the high-altitude route well ahead of its typical April–May schedule.
For the first time since assuming responsibility for the Mughal Road from Jammu and Kashmir’s R&B Department, the BRO launched unprecedented snow-clearance operations during the ongoing Chillai Kalaan.
Teams of the 56 RCC cleared avalanches at Razdan Pass and other high-altitude stretches, raising hopes that the historic route may reopen much earlier than in previous years.
Similarly, the Bandipora–Gurez road, another crucial lifeline for North Kashmir, witnessed swift snow and avalanche clearance by BRO teams.
Officials said that despite extreme winter conditions, operations along this route progressed rapidly, restoring access and ensuring safe passage for local commuters.
The BRO’s record-breaking winter operations this year have ensured uninterrupted inter-state and intra-state connectivity across Jammu and Kashmir at a pace rarely seen before.
The restoration of roads connecting Srinagar, Kargil, Doda, Kishtwar, and the northern frontier marks a significant achievement in maintaining strategic mobility during severe winter conditions.
