No Restriction on Civilian Traffic on Srinagar Highway from 27 May

26 May will be the last day of restriction on the movement of civilian traffic on the highway.

A queue of vehicles seen on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

(Photo: IANS)

The Jammu and Kashmir governor's administration on Tuesday, 21 May, withdrew an order restricting movement of civilian traffic on the national highway between Srinagar and Jammu from Monday.

An official statement said following a review of the security situation in the state and of the requirement of security forces' convoys, Governor Satya Pal Malik has decided to lift the remaining restrictions on civilian traffic movement on the national highway connecting Jammu to Srinagar with effect from 27 May.

The last day of restriction on the movement of civilian traffic on the highway will be 26 May.

The state administration had on 7 May reduced the number of days from two to one and allowed civilian traffic on Wednesdays.

These restrictions had become necessary following the movement of security forces on an unprecedented scale after the Pulwama terror attack, according to the statement.

The forces were required both for anti-militancy operations and for smooth conduct of the general elections.

In order to facilitate safe and secure movement of convoys of the security forces, the state administration had imposed prohibition on civilian traffic on the highway from Baramulla to Udhampur twice a week – Sunday and Wednesday – from 4 am to 5 pm.

However, elaborate arrangements were made by the local administration to facilitate movement of public during the period of restriction, it claimed.

Earlier, restriction on civilian movement between Srinagar and Baramulla on the highway was limited to Sunday with effect from 22 April and later completely withdrawn from 2 May.

Restrictions on the Srinagar-Udhampur stretch were limited to just one day from 13 May.

"After a detailed review today with all security agencies, civil and police administration in connection with the preparations for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra, the governor directed that there should be no restriction on civilian movement on the highway from Monday next," the statement said.

The restriction had come into force after a suicide bomber triggered an explosive laden car next to a bus of a CRPF convoy leaving 40 personnel dead.