Leh-Srinagar National Highway to remain open till November 15

Srinagar/Leh, October 28 (Scoop News) – To ensure completion of winter stocks of essential commodities in Ladakh region, the Srinagar-Leh National Highway will now remain open for vehicular traffic till November 15, 2010 subject to fair weather.

            It was decided at a high level meeting of officers of Transport, traffic and BRO held here under the Chairmanship of Minister for Transport and CA&PD  Qamar Ali Akhoon today. 

            The meeting decided that heavy vehicles will be allowed to ply on the National Highway alternately to and from Ladakh. Accordingly, the upward convoy to Ladakh will start on October 31. However, light vehicles would be allowed from both the sides during the period.

            It was also decided that the weigh bridge will remain open at Sonamarg from 8 a.m.  to 6 p.m. Further it was decided that a new weigh bridge will be installed near truck terminal to check the load carriers. For this purpose Rs.50 lakhs have already been sanctioned and released for installation of 4 new weigh bridges in the State.

            Speaking on the occasion,  Akhoon asked all the departments to gear up their machinery for dispatch of remaining supply to the region before the closer of the road so that people of the twin districts of Kargil and Leh do not suffer during the winter season.

            The Minister asked the beacon authorities to keep snow clearance machines at Zojila Pass for effective clearance operation as and when require. He also asked them to involve local in such operations as they are well aware of the whether condition of these areas and can discharge their functioning successfully.

            The meeting was among others attended by the Secretary CA&PD and Transport,  Pardeep Gupta, Commissioner Transport,  Fazalullah, DIG Traffic Kashmir,  A.Q. Manhas, MD SRTC,  J.S. Tandon, Director CA&PD Kashmir,  Abdul Wahid Tak, Chief Engineer Beacon, Chief Engineer Himank, Assistant Commissioner, Kashmir and other senior officers.

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