Jammu-Srinagar Highway Turns Into Commuters’ Nightmare Amid Damage and Mismanagement
Jammu: The 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway, a vital lifeline for the region, has become a scene of chaos for commuters. What was once a five-hour journey just three weeks ago now stretches to more than 12 hours due to extensive road damage and poor traffic management.
The highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of India, suffered severe damage along several stretches—particularly between Nashri and Udhampur—after record rainfall on August 26-27.
While authorities reopened the road three days ago with a one-way traffic system, commuters say mismanagement continues to worsen the situation. Truckers, officially barred from the highway for now, are clogging one side, while ongoing repair work has caused massive congestion. Lane indiscipline, reckless overtaking, and lack of traffic regulation have made travel even more hazardous.
Despite the chaos, commuters praised the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for creating a diversion between the severely damaged Balli Nalla and Thared areas in Udhampur, where both sides of the highway are buried under a moving hill.
“The surface is still unstable. We have to keep men and machinery ready to keep traffic moving,” an NHAI official supervising operations near Thared said. The official added that major damage at four points between Nashri and Udhampur, including washed-away sections at Samroli and a tunnel blocked by a landslide near Peerah, means full restoration will take at least three months.
Traffic authorities are currently regulating one-way movement for light motor vehicles. “Vehicles got jammed during a trial run on September 11 due to the slippery road, and excavators had to push them throughout the day. Heavy vehicles cannot move until the road bed dries,” a traffic official said.
However, trucks continue to move alongside passenger vehicles, including buses. Toll data shows about 2,500 trucks, including fruit-laden vehicles, used the highway in a 16-hour period despite restrictions.
Commuters described harrowing experiences. “We left Srinagar at 8:30 am but were met by hundreds of trucks blocking one tube at Qazigund. The road has become extremely dangerous with no lane discipline,” said Mohd Altaf, a doctor traveling with his family. Many had to drive on the wrong side due to a lack of diversion signs or traffic guidance.
Others reported severe delays past Peerah towards Nashri. Jasbir Singh, heading to Chandigarh, said a 3-km stretch took eight hours to cross due to repair closures. Businessman Ravi Kumar Sharma added, “Trucks blocked one tube and part of the other, causing complete chaos. Ambulances were stuck in traffic—it was unimaginable.”
Authorities have begun taking action against violators, but commuters say the highway remains a nightmare, with travel time more than doubled and safety a major concern.
