New Delhi, April 10:Emphasising that the national highway in Jammu and Kashmir is restricted for public for a limited period to facilitate movement of security forces, a Ministry of Home Affairs official said alternative routes, including old national highway and internal roads, are available for civilian traffic.
Refuting as ‘’deliberate and mischievous disinformation being spread about the recently imposed traffic restrictions on the national highway’’, a senior Home Ministry official said an impression is being created as if it is closed for civilians, which is ‘’farthest from truth’’.
The state government has already clarified that out of seven days in a week, only reasonable restrictions is for 12 hours — two days a week — to ensure safe movement of forces and at the same time minimising the inconvenience to public.
The total duration of prohibition is for 24 hours, out of 168 hours in a week, which amounts to only 15 per cent, the official said, adding that restrictions were in place in J&K earlier too and imposed from time to time in other parts of the country, for movement of the convoys of security forces.
While regulations for movement of civilian traffic were in place during convoy movement, the J&K government came out with a planned movement of security forces for 15 days till May 31 keeping in view convoy efficiency and security of the personnel, in the backdrop of Pulwama attack and a similar unsuccessful attempt on March 31.
The restrictions have been re-imposed after taking into account the requirements of students, patients, etc., and ensuring minimum public hindrance. A robust mechanism to facilitate the public by the administration for exceptions and emergencies has been ensured, the official said. A periodic review of these restrictions mechanism is also in place.
These planned restrictions, which came into force from April 3, 2019, have by and large stabilised and are being properly implemented by the state government without any inconvenience to public at large, the official said.
