JAMMU, July 31: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained closed to vehicular traffic on Friday as authorities carried out road widening, debris clearance and restoration work along vulnerable stretches between Udhampur and Banihal.
The 250-km highway, which serves as the main all-weather road connection between Kashmir and the rest of the country, was closed after a batch of around 1,600 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims departed from the Jammu base camp towards the cave shrine early Friday morning.
According to a traffic police advisory, movement of all types of vehicles has been suspended between Jakheni in Udhampur and Navyug Tunnel in Banihal to allow restoration work to proceed safely.
The closure follows requests from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), while the district administrations of Udhampur and Ramban permitted the work in view of commuter and driver safety.
Officials said the work includes widening the hillside carriageway at Ladha and Samroli and clearing loose, overhanging debris near Gangroo and Kishtwari Pather along the Udhampur-Banihal section.
Traffic restrictions are also in place at key entry points. Vehicles will not be permitted to move beyond Nagrota towards Srinagar, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Patnitop, while traffic from the Kashmir side will not be allowed beyond Qazigund towards Ramban, Udhampur and Jammu, as per the advisory.
However, commuters travelling towards Katra, Reasi and Udhampur have been advised to carry valid photo identity cards to facilitate movement from Nagrota.
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