UDHAMPUR, 08 September :- In a significant update on the National Highway blockade that has severely disrupted connectivity to the Kashmir region, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said that round-the-clock efforts are underway to restore traffic on the crucial road link. The Minister, in a post on the social media platform X, stated that with clear weather prevailing today, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) authorities are actively working to clear the blockades at the landslide-prone areas of Thard and Bali Nalah.
Providing a glimmer of hope to stranded passengers and freight operators, Dr. Singh, who is the Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office and represents the Udhampur constituency in Parliament, indicated that if the clearance operations continue unimpeded, traffic movement could potentially resume by late evening.
“The weather seems clear today, and the NHAI authorities are on the job, round the clock, to clear the National Highway blockade at Thard and Bali Nalah. Hopefully by late evening, it may be possible to start allowing the traffic movement,” the Minister’s post read.
Highlighting the administration’s proactive measures to mitigate the crisis, Dr. Singh detailed an innovative alternate arrangement to ensure the continuous supply of essential commodities to the cut-off districts of Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar. With road connectivity completely snapped beyond Udhampur, authorities have leveraged the recently inaugurated railway network. Essential supplies are now being transported via the newly introduced Special Local Passenger Train running from Katra to the Sangaldan area in Ramban district.From the Sangaldan railway station, these essential goods will be transferred to vehicles and carried forward by road to their final destinations, ensuring that the residents of the remote districts do not face shortages due to the natural blockage on the highway.
This multi-modal logistics solution underscores the increased connectivity options brought by the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link (USBRL) project, proving critical during emergency situations. The administration’s efforts are focused on maintaining normalcy and ensuring the well-being of people in the affected regions until the national highway is fully operational again.
