Amir Tantray
Current Matters
Srinagar, June 22: Commuting on Jammu-Srinagar national highway has become hell since the frequent traffic jams are irking people who travel on this route.
People get stuck together for hours and at times it takes more than 24 hours to complete the journey from Srinagar to Jammu or return.
Even the tourists coming from outside Jammu and Kashmir have also got irked by this road, which otherwise used to be a travellers paradise earlier due to its scenic beauty. But nowadays the highway is in shambles despite the fact that many areas have been bypassed either by constructing tunnels or completing the four-lane work at some patches.
“I was taking a critical patient from Associated Hospital GMC Doda to SKIMS Kashmir and It took me more than 20 hours to complete the to and fro journey. I have never seen such a traffic jam and sitting on steering for more than 20 hours was a hectic job,” said an ambulance driver of GMC Doda.
The traffic jams are occurring on almost daily basis and traffic authorities seem to be in a deep slumber. This is happening despite the fact that from Jammu upto Chenani-Nashri tunnel, the four-lane project has been completed and beyond Peerah tunnel, Panthal tunnel and Navyug tunnel have been completed and Karol bridge has also been thrown open.
“The road is in bad condition in between Nashri and Peerah and from Karol to Banihal where traffic jams have become order of the day. The construction work is going on but there seem to be no planning at place to keep the track free,” said Manohar Lal a commuter.
Even the tourists have many at times said that they will not travel to Kashmir via road again and advised others also to refrain from using land route.
