Essential, emergency service vehicles exempted from highway traffic plan

SRINAGAR — Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan Friday said that there would be no “blanket ban” on the civilian traffic on the national highway in Kashmir as emergency vehicles including ambulances, school buses and other essential services will be allowed on the Sunday and Wednesday.

The state government had issued an order on Wednesday, stating that no civilian traffic would be allowed to ply on the national highway from Baramulla till Udhampur for two days every week that is Sunday and Wednesday.

This prohibition would be from Baramulla through Srinagar, Qazigund, Jawahar-Tunnel, Banihal and Ramban till Udhampur in Jammu, the order reads.

While addressing a press conference here along with Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, SP Pani, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir said that he held a meeting with top police officers and district development commissioners on how to regulate the traffic on the national highway on Sunday and Wednesday.

“Not allowing of civilian traffic on the national highway on two days is to avoid inconvenience as people don’t have to wait unnecessarily for hours as vehicles of Army convoy will be in large numbers. Government found it better to put restrictions on two days so that traffic will ply normally on other days,” he said.

He said that there would be no restrictions on vehicles of “medical emergencies, schools, colleges, government employees, and people running business establishments, those who have orchards near the highway, tourist vehicles, and those who have to travel by air”.

Later, Divisional Commissioner said that they would be given special passes and there will be no restriction on them. “Even at times of medical emergency, special magistrates will be on roads and will give them on spot passes,” he added.

“Numbers will also be shared at district levels to ensure people don’t face any inconvenience at the time of emergency,” he said and added that there would be no restrictions on the cross over except at the time of convoy passing.