Leh Highway To Reopen For Traffic On Feb 28
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday announced reopening of Srinagar-Leh highway for vehicular traffic on February 28.
The vehicles will be flagged off by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Union Territory for traffic movement on February 28, an official spokesperson said Wednesday.
In Srinagar, he said, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, P K Pole convened a meeting of officers to review status of Srinagar- SonamargGumri (SSG) road scheduled to be thrown open for civilian traffic from February 28. Among others, Chief Engineer, MED, SSP Traffic Rural were present in the meeting, while the Divisional Commissioner Ladakh,
Saugat Biswas, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Chief Engineer BRO, officials from NIDCL and SSPs of district Ganderbal and Kargil joined the meeting through Video Conferencing.
Chief Engineer BRO briefed the Div Com about the status of road clearance on National Highway- 1.
According to the official spokesperson, the meeting was informed that the road stands cleared for one-way traffic, however in view of weather advisory the road shall be opened for civilian traffic from February 28.
The meeting, he said, was also informed that several advisories need to be issued in view of slippery road condition and avalanche warnings including allowing plying of vehicles with chains both HMVs and LMVs and one way traffic at Zojilla pass to avoid accidents.
“The Div Com said that to prevent any exigency both of these advisories shall be put in place besides there shall be proper timing to allow movement of vehicles from Sonmarg and Minamarg. The cut off time for vehicles from Sonmarg side shall be 10 am and from Minamarg, the cut off time for vehicles has been proposed as 11 am,” the official spokesperson said.
“To ensure mobile connectivity for travellers along the highway in case of any emergency, Div Com directed the BRO to provide logistic support to BSNL and Jio networks to resume the cellular connectivity,” he added.
As per the official spokesperson, Pole also directed the CE, BRO to provide different kinds assistance including accomodation, food, petrol etc to the travellers during emergency along the highway.
“Besides, he directed the DC Kargil, and CE, MED to place recovery vans on road as per the past practice. The Div Com directed for close coordination among the Dy. SPs and Collectors on both sides of the pass to ensure hassle free movement of vehicles,” he added.
The official spokesperson said that the Div Com, Ladakh during the meeting asked the concerned functionaries that the road clearance be conducted in coordination with telecom authorities to avoid disruption of telecommunication and internet services.
“He also instructed the concerned to allow smooth movement of service vehicles of telecoms along the highway,” he added.
According to the official spokesperson, the DC Ganderbal informed the chair that all facilities for tomorrow’s opening of Sonmarg tourist destination for tourists have been put in place including restoration of power, water and telecommunication services besides opening of hotels etc.