JK govt to raise traffic issue with centre

Jammu, Dec 13 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to take up the traffic problem arising due to landslides on the 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway with union government so that highway is maintained properly to ensure the round the clock movement.

On the instruction of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, his two cabinet colleagues today visited various spots on the highway where road was blocked due to land slides. Vehicular traffic was resumed this afternoon.

Minister for Transport Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and Minister for Roads and Buildings Gulchain Singh Charak inspected Panthal, the spot where highway was blocked due to heavy land-slides and supervised the road clearance operations till the movement of traffic was restored.

The ministers said the government is very concerned about the blockade of the highway, causing problems to the general public. The direction has been issued to the authorities to quickly clear the debris on the national highway.

The traffic was resumed this afternoon after remaining closed since last night due to landslides and shooting of stones on the highway at various places between Banihal to Ramban.

Mr Yaseen, while directing the traffic police personnel for proper regulation of traffic over the highway to avoid disturbance, said, ''the government has decided to raise this serious problem with the union government for permanent solution.'' ''Several areas being prone to landsliding, the monitoring authorities especially the traffic and Beacon authorities have to be more vigilant and pro-active to oversee the safety of the road and plying of vehicles on the highway,'' he added.

The highway linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country was closed last night due to landslides and shooting of stones. However, no vehicle was allowed to leave Jammu or Srinagar this morning and only stranded ones were allowed to move towards their respective destinations.

UNI HGV AKJ KN2125