Srinagar, May 21: Governor Satya Pal Malik has decided to completely lift the restrictions on the civilian traffic movement on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway from May 27.

This follows the review of the security situation in the state and of the requirement of security forces’ convoys.

Earlier, the restriction on civilian traffic movement between Srinagar and Baramulla on NH-44 was reduced only to Sunday and later completely lifted from May 2. Restrictions on the Srinagar Udhampur stretch were limited to just one day from May 13.

“After a detailed review on Tuesday with all security agencies, civil and police administration in connection with the preparations for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra, the Governor directed that there should be no restriction on civilian movement on NH 44 from Monday.

The Governor thanked the people of the state for cooperating with the measures which were necessitated in the larger interest of the state and for welfare of the people,” said an official spokesman.

These restrictions, the spokesman said, had become necessary following the movement of security forces on an unprecedented scale after the Pulwama suicide attack.

“The forces were required both for anti-militancy operations and for smooth conduct of general elections. In order to facilitate safe and secure movement of Security Forces’ Convoys, the Government had imposed a prohibition on civilian traffic on NH-44 from Baramulla to Udhampur on Sundays and Wednesdays from 4 am to 5 pm. Elaborate arrangements were, however, made by the local administration to facilitate movement of public during the period of restriction”, he said.

On April 3, the Jammu and Kashmir government banned civilian traffic on the National Highway right from Baramulla to Udhampur twice a week and reserved the Sundays and Wednesdays exclusively for the movement of security forces’ convoys. The government gave the possibility of a fidayeen militant attack and general elections as the reasons for the order.

Reviews security arrangements for Amarnath yatra
Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, May 21: Governor Satya Pal Malik, Chairman, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), Tuesday chaired a high level meeting at Raj Bhavan here to review important security related matters with regard to the Yatra which is scheduled to commence on July 1, from both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes.
The meeting was attended by the Advisor (K) to Governor, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, GOC XV Corps, GOC Victor Force, CEO of Shrine Board; Home Secretary; Heads of Central & State Intelligence Agencies; and senior most officers of Central Armed Police Forces, J&K Police & Air Force.
Governor stressed the need for all concerned agencies to maintain a close watch and effective coordination to ensure the smooth conduct of the forthcoming Yatra.
Detailed presentations were made by the Security Agencies regarding the obtaining and emerging security environment in the State, keeping in view the envisaged objectives of adversary external agencies.
The meeting held extensive discussions with regard to preparedness for meeting any unforeseen situation arising in the Yatra area; deployment of ROP for safe movement of Yatris; Corridor security & Area domination especially beyond ROP hours; functioning of the Joint Control Rooms at every Yatra Camp; linking up Joint Control Rooms with the MET Department and the District Disaster Management Units; deployment of Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) of the State Police along with Rescue Teams of various Security Forces at identified locations on both the Yatra routes; deployment of well-equipped Fire Fighting teams at pre-determined points; installation of X-Ray Baggage Scanning units at appropriate locations; Access Control Arrangements at Neelgrath, Panjtarni and Pahalgam helipads; Bar code enumeration points; telecommunication facilities along the Yatra routes etc.
The meeting discussed the enforcement of an effective Access Control System at the Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps and at the Domel and Chandanwari Access Control Gates; effective traffic regulation from Lakhanpur Check Post onwards through augmentation of the existing strength of Traffic Police; Air Traffic Control arrangements for the heli-services from the Pahalgam and Baltal to Panjtarni; transit camps arrangements; installation of CCTVs at various Camps and at the Access Control Gates; etc.
Governor directed DGP and the Divisional Administration to ensure rapid and unhindered movement of validly registered Yatris right from the time they enter into the State and travel to the Holy Cave, and to ensure against their facing any avoidable inconvenience.
He emphasized that all agencies undertake a thorough review of all required arrangements for promptly dealing with any arising disaster situation and, for this purpose, evolve clear Standard Operating Procedures which would be strictly followed by all the stakeholders, including the District Administration and Security Forces.
Governor also stressed that all security agencies should rectify the deficiencies, if any, observed during previous Yatras and provide fool proof security cover to yatris during their forward & return journey.
Governor directed Director General of Police; Divisional Commissioners of Jammu & Kashmir Divisions; Inspector General of Police of Jammu & Kashmir Divisions to ensure wide publicity of the Advisories relating to safety & security of Yatris, including the cut-off timings through print and electronic media & particularly display these at Railway Station Jammu; Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar Jammu; Lakhanpur Checkpost; the On- spot Registration Counters at Jammu & Srinagar and at Base Camps of Baltal,Nunwan and Panjtarni through Public Address System by the Information Department of respective District Administration.

Jammu, May 21: The J&K Government is considering dividing the Srinagar-Jammu highway into zones and sections where double lane and single lane traffic will be allowed to avoid traffic jams.

The same was deliberated in a meeting Tuesday convened by Advisor to Governor KK Sharma with the committee of experts of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), constituted to assess the situation of land sliding and unstable slopes on National Highway, besides discussing the issues faced by the implementing agency in undertaking hassle-free four-laning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Threadbare discussions over the issues of traffic management, removal and dumping of debris, relocation of towers, parking of trucks, repairing of natural drainages, awareness of helpline numbers on the national Highway 44 were held.

The committee informed the Advisor about the trouble caused by the parking of vehicles, especially trucks, on the road side of the national highway. For better traffic management, it was suggested by the committee that the highway should be divided into zones and section where double lane and single lane traffic is allowed to avoid traffic jams.

The Advisor asked the concerned authorities to ensure that no truck or any other vehicles are parked on the road side and dedicated parking points are identified.

Highlighting the issue of debris on the road side, the committee said that there is a proactive need of removing the debris from the highway as it causes hindrance in the smooth working on highway.

The Advisor asked the concerned officers to identify more locations to dump the debris which should not cause any inconvenience to the traffic plying on the highway.

The Advisor directed the PDD department to protect the towers along with national highway and explore the possibility of their relocation so that populace residing there should not face any kind of problem.

The Advisor asked the concerned departments to take immediate action to repair the natural drains as suggested by the committee.

The meeting also discussed awareness regarding the helpline number so that the people would know about the medical and first aid facilities provided on national highway.
The Advisor directed the officers to work in synergy and coordination for the completion of the project in smooth and time bound manner.

Srinagar, May 21: Two Jammu and Kashmir policemen, who were a part of 11 member climbers’ squad, have scaled Mount Everest on Tuesday.

Police said that selection grade constables Nazir Ahmed and Falial Singh, who took part in the expedition have successfully reached the summit along with their fellow climbers of All India Police Sports Control Board Team.

Ahmed, who hails from district Kupwara is presently posted at JKAP 14th Battalion while as constable Falil Singh, a resident of Rajouri is serving in IRP first Battalion.

Both of them, the police said, have been trained in basic mountaineering from The Jawaharlal Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, Pahalgam in 2004.

“They are performing their duties with the JK Police Mountaineering Rescue Teams,” a police spokesman said.

Police said both these climbers achieved the feat on Tuesday morning after completing the last leg of the expedition.

These two policemen along with the group had scaled four camps beginning with Base Camp (17500meters) to Camp 4 (28000meters).

Earlier, Sub Inspector of Police Ram Singh and Rafiq Ahmad of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has scaled the world’s highest peak in the year 2008.

Sonam Paljor and Hero Wangyal from Leh district also scaled the World’s highest peak during an army expedition in the past.

Sub Inspector Ram Singh said the selection process for the expedition had begun since 2017.“First of all they are being trained and then selection starts at All India Level. Then preparation starts for their acclimatizing,” he said.

Singh said the climbers have to overcome various obstacles before reaching to the summit.“Weather plays an important role here since treks get delayed due to the bad weather quite often. Further there are rock avalanches and glaciers who prove to be an obstacle for a climber. But once a person is trained he overcomes all these obstacles,” he said.

He said the climbers will now return to the Camp2 where they will stay for few days before heading to the base camp.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also greeted the policemen for their achievement.
“The team comprised nine personnel from the IB and 2 of @JmuKmrPolice. I am proud of their achievement and wishing them success in their future endeavors,” he tweeted.

Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh termed the achievement as “proud moment” for J&K police department. He wished the successful return of the mountaineers.

“Police headquarters have been giving every opportunity to the men from the department and also from the civil society to excel and achieve the goals in any field of the sports to make name for the country, state and for themselves,” he said.

The statement said that Governor, Satya Pal Malik, Advisor to Governor, K. Vijay Kumar, Chief Secretary J&K, BVR Subramanyam and ADGP (Armed),SJM Gillani have congratulated the police personnel for successfully scaling the Mount Everest in the wee hours today.