Jammu-Srinagar National Highway Reopens: A Sigh of Relief After Fortnight-Long Closure

A collective sigh of relief has swept across the region as the crucial Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the sole all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of India, has finally reopened for traffic. After an arduous nearly a fortnight — precisely 13 challenging days — of closure caused by relentless heavy rains and devastating landslides, the artery of the valley's connectivity is once again operational, albeit for one-way movement.

The highway, a lifeline for both commuters and the economy, had succumbed to nature's fury with multiple major landslides blocking its path.

The most significant of these blockages occurred at Dalwas, near Cafeteria Morh in the Ramban sector, where massive debris and boulders had accumulated, rendering the road impassable. This prolonged closure led to an unprecedented backlog of vehicles, with thousands of trucks laden with essential supplies and passenger vehicles left stranded on both sides of the highway, creating immense hardship for drivers, passengers, and the populations dependent on these goods.

During the nearly two-week ordeal, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and other relevant government agencies worked tirelessly, often under dangerous conditions, to clear the colossal mounds of earth and rocks.

Engineering teams deployed a fleet of heavy machinery, including excavators and bulldozers, to painstakingly remove the debris and reconstruct damaged sections of the road. Their persistent efforts, particularly at critical choke points like Dalwas, were instrumental in achieving this much-anticipated breakthrough.

Upon its reopening, authorities announced that traffic would initially flow in a single direction to manage the massive backlog efficiently and ensure safety.

Priority was given to clearing the thousands of stranded vehicles, particularly those transporting essential commodities like food, fuel, and medicines into the Kashmir Valley. This phased approach aims to normalize traffic flow and prevent further congestion on the newly cleared stretches.

The reopening of the highway is not merely about traffic movement; it symbolizes the restoration of normalcy and vital economic activity for the region.

The extended closure had led to significant economic losses, supply shortages, and heightened anxieties. With the road now open, the flow of goods and people can resume, providing much-needed relief to businesses, residents, and the transport sector, underscoring the highway’s indispensable role in the life of Jammu and Kashmir.