Udhampur Administration Imposes Strict Ban on Heavy Vehicle Movement over Salmey Bridge
UDHAMPUR, May 21: In a decisive move to avert potential disaster and safeguard public life, the District Administration of Udhampur has issued an immediate and absolute prohibition on the entry and movement of heavy vehicles across the Salmey Bridge/Aqueduct. The official directive, issued under Order Number DMU/JC/267, comes as a matter of urgent public safety following continuous warnings regarding the deteriorating structural integrity of the bridge.
The enforcement action was formally executed by Dr. Umesh Shan (JKAS), Additional District Magistrate of Udhampur, invoking stringent powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. According to the official document, the ban specifically targets heavy vehicles—including heavily loaded dumpers, trucks, tippers, and other overloaded commercial vehicles—which have reportedly continued to ply the route despite the aqueduct being declared unsafe for heavy loads.
The administration’s intervention was triggered by a recent, critical communication dated May 13, 2026, from the Executive Engineer of the Civil Maintenance Division, PDC, Udhampur. The engineering report, backed by photographic evidence, highlighted that unchecked heavy traffic poses an imminent and serious threat to the structural foundation of the aqueduct. Recognizing that continued violations could aggravate structural damage and result in an untoward incident involving a catastrophic loss of human life and public property, the authorities deemed an immediate intervention necessary.
To ensure flawless execution of the directive, key enforcement bodies have been mobilized. The Senior Superintendent of Police Udhampur, Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) National Highway Ramban, Assistant Regional Transport Officer Udhampur, District Mineral Officer Udhampur, and the Tehsildar/Executive Magistrate Udhampur have all been formally requested to implement the restrictive order in letter and spirit. Because individual notices cannot be served to every commuter, the order has been passed ex-parte for general public information. It has come into force with immediate effect and will remain active until further official orders are issued.