MAV introduced for tourists in Kashmir, highway reopens for two-way

Srinagar, May 2 (UNI) Keeping in view the tourists season ahead, the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have decided to allow two-way traffic on the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and introduced a ''Mobile Assistance Vehicle (MAV)'' for helping tourists in the city.

As the tourists arrival is picking up from different parts of the country, particularly plains, where temperatures have touched plus 40 degrees, the authorities have decided to allow two-way traffic on the highway, the only road linking the Valley with the rest of the country,'' A traffic official said the highway will remain open for traffic from Srinagar and Jammu on all days. Only one-way traffic was being allowed on the highway for the past six months.

A spokesman of the state Tourism department said it had introduced MAV, equipped with telephone and wireless set and other necessary equipment, from this afternoon.

The MAV will keep moving on Boulvard road from Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) to different Mughal gardens on the banks of the Dal Lake.

Officials of different departments will remain in the MAV to help the tourists on the spot, he added.

So far the tourist arrival is less as compared to last year when a large number of tourists had visited the valley in the month of April and May.

UNI