In an attempt to streamline the traffic movement, the J&K administration on Wednesday banned the movement of heavy goods vehicles on three inner routes which connect with Qazigund tunnel on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
The order comes amid reports that trucks ferrying apples from different parts of Kashmir were using inner roads to reach the tunnel, bypassing the queue of vehicle that are already stranded on the highway.
An order issued by district magistrate Anantnag, Dr Basharat Qayoom, said that there has been a noticeable increase in the movement of heavy goods vehicles along all three routes especially National Highway in view of the apple harvest season.
The order said that it has been reported that in order to avoid rush on National Highway, the truck drivers adopt various inner routes to reach Qazigund tunnel area, which leads to traffic jamming due to which general public including patients suffer badly.
It added that in the previous year, a child lost his life, as he couldn't get timely medical aid due to traffic jamming on Anantnag-Dooru-Verinag (ADV road) road.
“In order to prevent recurrence of the unfortunate incident referred to above, and to address the issue of frequent traffic jamming in inner routes, it has become imperative to impose total ban on the movement of Jammu bound heavy goods vehicles on Mirbazar-Ashajipora Road, Anantnag Dooru-Verinag Road and Dalwach-Mehmoodabad routes,” it said.
The DC ordered that there shall be complete ban on movement of Jammu bound heavy goods vehicles on Mirbazar Ashajipora Road, Anantnag-Dooru-Verinag Road and Dalwach Mehmoodabad Road.
“Senior Superintendents of Police, Anantnag and Kulgam and Superintendent of Police Traffic Rural Kashmir and National Highway, shall ensure implementation of the order in letter and spirit,” it said.