Srinagar: Massive traffic jams due to bad road conditions coupled with a bottleneck at Samroli toll plaza, and high bus fares has irked commuters, traveling on Srinagar-Jammu national highway which connects Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.
The commuters were also angry over the fact that there was no one screening people for Coronovirus on the highway.
A traffic police official confirmed that one-way traffic was plying from Jammu to Srinagar on the Kashmir highway but the movement was slow at Samroli Chenani due to the location of a toll plaza.
Commuters traveling on the national highway from Jammu to Srinagar told UNI that they have been moving at a snail’s pace and were struck at various places on the highway due to traffic jams.
“We left at around 0430 hrs in the morning from Jammu. We were moving at a snail’s pace on the highway. We were stranded for over an hour each at Udhampur and Nagrota. And, now we are stranded at Ramban as we have not moved an inch from last one hour due to traffic jam,” lamented Nida Muzaffar, a Delhi University student while talking to UNI.
Commuters also alleged that the drivers are charging four times more than the usual fare to ferry people from Jammu to Srinagar. “I had to pay Rs 2,500 as fare from Jammu to Srinagar, which otherwise is around Rs 800 to Rs 1000,” Nida added.
Absence of shops and restaurants at the highway further enhanced the inconvenience of the commuters. “We haven’t eaten anything since morning as no shop was open on the highway. I don’t think we would get anything till we reach home… and we don’t know when we will reach home following heavy traffic jam,” said Nida.
Similar, views were expressed by other people who were onboard Kashmir-bound vehicles.
Heavy traffic jam on Kashmir highway, high fare irks travelers
