SRINAGAR The administration on Wednesday withdrawn restriction on movement of civilian traffic on the Srinagar-Baramulla stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar Highway (NH-44), an official said Wednesday.
The two-day-a-week restriction — Wednesday and Sunday — was put in place to facilitate movement of security forces’ convoys.
“The restriction on civilian movement between Srinagar and Baramulla on the NH-44 will be completely lifted with effect from May 2, 2019. There will be no prohibition on civilian traffic on this stretch on Sunday or Wednesday,” an official spokesman said.
However, he said the restriction will continue between Srinagar and Udhampur on the NH-44 as earlier.
The government had last month imposed restriction on civilian movement on the national highway connecting Jammu to Srinagar, in order to ensure adequate security to movement of government forces’ convoys while at the same time minimising public inconvenience, the spokesman said.
These restriction became necessary following the large movement of government forces on an unprecedented scale after the Pulwama attack, he said.
These forces were required both for anti-militancy operations and for conducting general elections peacefully.
The government is monitoring the convoy needs of government forces on a real-time basis and making all attempts to minimise public inconvenience, the spokesman said.
“The restriction will be reviewed periodically and relaxation would be made as the need for restriction reduces,” he added.
The spokesman said a complete review of the restriction on the highway would be done subsequently.
“Following the successful conduct of elections in Anantnag and Kulgam districts and as the requirement of Security Forces is now reducing as they are de-inducted, the Government has decided to further relax the restrictions on traffic imposed earlier as the restriction on civilian movement between Srinagar and Baramulla on NH-44 will be completely lifted w.e.f. 2-05-2019. There would be no prohibition on civilian traffic in this stretch on Sunday or Wednesday”.
The restrictions would continue between Srinagar and Udhampur on NH-44 as earlier. However, these would be reviewed periodically and relaxation would be made as the need for restriction reduces, he said.
“The local administration would continue to facilitate movement of civilian traffic as has been happening so far, including by allowing public transport of JKSRTC to move during the period of restriction on the NH”.
A complete review of restrictions on the Highway would be done subsequently, he said.
The government stated that the purpose of these restrictions is in the larger interest of security of everyone and appealed the people to extend full cooperation in the smooth regulation of traffic.
The restrictions strike a balance between the needs of people and inconvenience caused to them on one side and the needs of security forces. The restrictions will continue to be reviewed on a real-time basis and modifications will be made as necessary in the coming days, he said.
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