Srinagar-Leh highway to remain open round-the-clock

Srinagar, May 30: The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to allow Light Motor Vehicles to operate two way round-the-clock on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh National Highway from next Monday, saying it would promote tourism and ensure sufficient stock of essential commodities in the Ladakh region.

The region remains cut off from rest of the country for six months during winter due to heavy snowfall between Sonamarg-Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia.

The decision to keep the highway open was taken at a high-level meeting, which was headed by Minister for Transport and Ladakh Affairs, Mangat Ram Sharma.

The meeting took important decisions to ease the traffic regulation on the Srinagar-Leh national highway to ensure sufficient stock of essential commodities besides uninterrupted road connectivity by regulating traffic round-the-clock to boost tourism in the region, official sources said.

It also decided that load carriers would be allowed to carry eight tones of load as against existing seven tones. The weigh bridge enroute would be manned exclusively by the traffic department.

The meeting was informed that a well-equipped workshop had been established at Sonamarg and started functioning.

Mr Sharma directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and Director CAPD to coordinate with the Food Corporation of India for obtaining sufficient stock of food grains in advance for the region.

He also asked Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to ensure that an ambulance mobile was made available on the route to meet any eventuality.

Mr Sharma warned the traffic authorities over complaints of harassment by traffic police deployed enroute Srinagar-Leh, saying mal-practices would not be tolerated and strict action be taken against the defaulter.

He directed Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to keep strict vigil and adopt latest technology to monitor reported incidents of any mal-practices by the traffic police.

Among others, who attended the meeting, included Minister for Power Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Social Welfare Haji Nissar Ali, MLC P Namgyal and Nassrullah, CEOs Leh and Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council, MLA Nobra and Zanskar Thupstan Tswang, MP ladakh, Financial Commissioner PDD, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, PWD, Tourism, Finance, CAPD, Transport Commissioner and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir.

UNI