Serious Action Needed To End National Highway Gridlock

The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, especially the Ramban stretch, has become an emblem of commuter distress, time lost, and economic setbacks for the region. Once envisaged as a lifeline connecting Kashmir to the rest of India, this crucial artery now evokes images of endless lines of frustrated travellers, stranded apple-laden trucks, and daily uncertainties for thousands who rely on its timely functioning. Gridlock on this highway has escalated to crisis levels. What should have been a smooth four-to-five-hour drive has turned into a harrowing ten-hour ordeal for commuters. Many who rely on the highway for work, trade, and family obligations are at a breaking point. Ongoing repair activities, breakdowns of heavy trucks, wrong-lane driving, overtaking violations, and the movement of nomadic flocks all add to the chaos. In particular, the Ramban–Udhampur sector faces severe bottlenecks, with the much-advertised double-laning often only existing on paper, reducing traffic to single lanes and compounding delays. Every day, commuters and truck drivers face mounting costs and acute frustration. Exporters, especially apple growers, find their produce at risk as traffic jams threaten both livelihoods and the broader supply chain(see the generated image above). Despite officials’ assurances, visible improvements are lacking on the ground. While two-way traffic for light vehicles has been restored in some sectors, congestion and chronic blockages continue, especially from Qazigund through the notorious Ramban stretch. Repairs, blasting, and maintenance teams help to some extent, but these short-term fixes cannot substitute for systematic solutions. Authorities must recognise that the future of the Kashmir Valley’s economic and social well-being runs directly through this highway. There should be a coordinated push to expedite ongoing construction and repair with the utmost urgency while ensuring continuous monitoring and a genuine double-laning of all choke points. Strategic interventions, such as better traffic regulation, staggered truck movements, preventive maintenance, and clear public advisories, are essential. The seamless movement of goods, produce, and people is not just a matter of convenience but of economic survival and regional stability. The current condition of the Jammu–Srinagar highway is an urgent call for action. Authorities must act decisively to implement sustainable solutions, alleviate daily suffering, and restore trust in this highway as a channel, not a chokepoint, for progress in Kashmir.