Jammu-Srinagar Highway Restoration: CM Omar Abdullah Inspects NH-44 Repair Works to Ensure Smooth Traffic Flow
UDHAMPUR, AUGUST 07, 2026 — In a direct bid to evaluate ground conditions along Jammu and Kashmir’s primary connectivity lifeline, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conducted an extensive road journey from Jammu to Srinagar along National Highway-44 (NH-44) on Friday. The high-level inspection was undertaken to personally review the ongoing restoration, slope stabilization, and clearance operations following severe disruptions caused by recent adverse weather, including heavy rainfall, shooting stones, and widespread landslides that repeatedly blocked traffic over the past several days.
During the inspection transit, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah received detailed on-site briefings from representatives of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and technical teams from various executing agencies regarding the pace of repair along damaged, landslide-prone stretches. Accompanied by senior administration and police figures—including Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, top NHAI executives, and key Traffic Police personnel—the Chief Minister emphasized that NH-44 serves as the critical economic and logistical backbone of the entire region, requiring immediate, unhindered operational status.
Highlighting the economic stakes involved, the Chief Minister instructed all relevant authorities to prioritize the swift and safe transit of heavy transport vehicles carrying fresh fruit and agricultural produce. He pointed out that extended delays on this critical arterial road severely impact local growers, commercial traders, and the regional economy at large. To minimize commuter hardship and prevent bottlenecks, he mandated seamless multi-agency coordination among the NHAI, district administrations, and Traffic Police, while directing field officers to deploy additional heavy machinery and dedicated personnel at vulnerable transit points to accelerate full restoration while adhering to strict safety standards.