Srinagar: Asserting that the situation has considerably improved in Kashmir over the years, Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Monday said the curbs imposed on civilian traffic and apple-laden Trucks on the highway in the aftermath of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, will soon be lifted.
Bidhuri said there would be no restrictions on the movement of heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) along the 276-km strategic highway, connecting Srinagar with Jammu.
“The decision of restricting civilian traffic, he said, was taken as a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) following a terrorist attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in February 2019 near Lethpora area in south Kashmir’s Pulwama” he said.
“The traffic on NH-44 was allowed on odd, even basis after the 2019 Pulwama attack as the highway was under construction besides there was no barrier in between the road.
Civilian traffic movement was suspended whenever there was a movement of security forces convoy,” Bidhuri told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He said the restrictions that were put in place on the highway will be completely withdrawn and that the people will not face any inconvenience hereafter.
The government, Div Com said, paid more attention towards NH-44 in view of the difficulties faced by the common masses and eventually decided to remove all curbs according to the security scenario and the convenience of the general population.
He said the security agencies have been reviewing the situation and that the decision in this direction will be implemented soon. “It’s a matter of contentment for everyone including valley fruit growers and the general masses. There would be no restrictions on the movement of heavy motor vehicles (trucks) on the national highway-44, nor would the truckers face any inconvenience henceforth,” Div Com added.
It is pertinent to mention that the apple industry suffered huge losses due to transportation halting on Jammu-Srinagar highway.