Ban on civilian traffic on Srinagar-Baramulla highway limited to Sundays only

Srinagar: The restrictions imposed on civilian traffic between Srinagar and Baramulla in north Kashmir has been limited to only Sundays with effect from Monday, an official Spokesperson said here on Saturday.

However, the two-day restriction in week on civilian movement will continue on Srinagar-Jammu highway.

He said the restriction on civilian movement on Srinagar-Baramulla would now be limited only to Sundays with effect from Monday. ”There would be no prohibition on civilian traffic on Wednesday on the highway,” he said.

But, he said the restrictions would continue between Srinagar and Udhampur on the highway earlier. ”These would be reviewed periodically and relaxation would be made, as the need for restriction reduces,” he added.

He said even on the days of restrictions – Sunday and Wednesday – between Srinagar and Udhampur and on Sunday between Baramulla and Srinagar, the local administration would continue to facilitate movement of civilian traffic, as has been happening in the last two weeks.

Further, he said the local administration and police would examine the possibility of allowing public transport of JKSRTC to move during the period of restriction on the highway, even on convoy days.

”A complete review of restrictions on the Highway would be done after the last phase of elections on May 6, to examine the need for continuing with them,” he said.

He said earlier this month, the Government had imposed restrictions on civilian movement on the National Highway, connecting Jammu to Srinagar, in order to ensure adequate security to the movement of Security Forces’ Convoys, while at the same time, minimising public inconvenience.

He said there has been a large movement of security forces on an unprecedented scale after the Pulwama terror attack. ”These forces were required both for anti-militancy operations and for conducting General Elections peacefully,” he added.

In order to facilitate unhindered and secure movement of Security Forces’ Convoys, he said the government had imposed a prohibition on civilian traffic on the highway from Baramulla to Udhampur twice a week-Sunday and Wednesday, from 0400 hrs to 1700 hrs.

He said elaborate arrangements were made by the local administration to facilitate the movement of public during the period of restriction.

The government is monitoring the convoy needs of security forces on a real time basis and making all attempts to minimise public inconvenience, he added.

”The government has once again reviewed the requirement of security forces, particularly in the light of successful conduct of elections in Baramulla and Jammu on April 11, 2019 and Srinagar and Kathua on April 18, 2019,” he added.