Srinagar-Leh highway thrown open for light motor vehicles

SONMARG — After remaining closed for over two months, 434 km strategic Srinagar-Leh highway was thrown open for light motor vehicles on Friday.

A Beacon official told news agency Kashmir News Trust that the Srinagar-Leh highway had been cleared for all hurdles on March 19, but vehicles were not allowed to ply on the highway.

“Today, the highway was thrown open for the traffic. Only light motor vehicles from Srinagar to Kargil were allowed to ply on the road,” he said.

The highway was closed for vehicular traffic in January this year after the high-altitude areas of Kashmir, including Sonamarg, Zojila Pass, Minimarg, Zero Point, and other parts received heavy snowfall.

The Beacon official further said that the decision about the movement of the heavy vehicles on the highway will be taken by the civil and Police administration in the coming days.

Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Krittika Jyotsna along with SSP Ganderbal Nikhil Borker flagged off the first convoy of light motor vehicles at Sonamarg towards Kargil.

Hundreds of light motor vehicles laden with vegetables and fruits crossed the Zojila Pass on Friday morning.