Srinagar-Jammu NH-44 Reopened for Two-Way Traffic, Fruit Trucks Given Priority

Jammu and Kashmir Minister Javid Ahmad Dar inspected landslide‑damaged sections of the Srinagar‑Jammu National Highway (NH‑44) and ordered a rapid restoration effort, stressing that fruit‑laden trucks must be given top priority during the peak horticulture season to prevent post‑harvest losses. He directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Public Works Department and traffic police to deploy additional manpower, machinery and a round‑the‑clock monitoring system along vulnerable stretches.

Following improved weather, the highway was reopened for two‑way traffic, including the Amarnath Yatra convoy and regulated movement of light and heavy vehicles. The NHAI completed repairs on the Dewal stretch in the Udhampur‑Chenani sector, filling damaged carriageways and restoring the road surface. Despite the reopening, traffic remains regulated due to lingering single‑lane sections and the risk of fresh landslides. Commuters are advised to use alternate routes such as the old Jawahar Tunnel road or the Patnitop route, and only vehicles with valid photo ID may travel beyond cut‑off times after the Yatra convoy passes.