Ramban/Srinagar: The lifeline of the Kashmir Valley, the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), is open for traffic today, 15 January 2026, subject to fair weather and road conditions. However, authorities have issued a critical safety advisory urging commuters to avoid night journeys, as the threat of shooting stones remains high in the Ramban sector.
The ongoing Chillai Kalan dry spell has kept the highway largely snow-free, but geological instability at key stretches such as Marog–Kishtwari Pather continues to test travellers and traffic managers.
For 15 January, Traffic Police Headquarters J&K has allowed Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) to ply from both Jammu and Srinagar sides, with a clear “daytime only” caution attached.
Jammu Srinagar National Highway Traffic Update: Current Status: Open but Slow
Jammu Srinagar National Highway Traffic Update: According to the latest advisory from Traffic Police Headquarters J&K, LMVs and HMVs are permitted to move from both directions (Jammu towards Srinagar and vice versa) on NH-44, subject to fair weather.
However, “smooth” would be an overstatement. Travellers have reported significant delays on recent days due to single-lane restrictions and vehicle breakdowns at critical bottlenecks, particularly:
- Balinalla
- Dewal
- Nashri–Dalwas stretch
- Marog–Kishtwari Pather stretch
The breakdown of multiple heavy trucks in these narrow portions has repeatedly choked movement, turning what is normally a 6-hour journey into a 10-hour ordeal for many commuters.
The Danger Zones: Why Avoid Night Travel?
Traffic Police has explicitly advised that night travel should be avoided on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway.
Despite clear skies, dry and loose mountain soil is triggering intermittent shooting stones at Kishtwari Pather, Marog and other vulnerable points. Ongoing road-widening work between Ramban and Banihal has left several stretches more fragile than usual. After sunset, visibility drops sharply, increasing the risk of accidents and sudden closures.
“Commuters are advised to prefer journeys during daytime only,” the advisory notes, adding that lane indiscipline and unnecessary overtaking remain major causes of gridlocks in the Ramban sector.
Mughal Road, Sinthan Top & Zojila Update
For those exploring alternative routes, options remain limited and tightly regulated.
Mughal Road (Shopian–Poonch)
- Status: OPEN for LMVs (passenger / private cars), subject to fair weather.
- Requirement: Anti-skid chains mandatory in frost-prone sections.
- Timings: Vehicles are allowed from Chandimarh (Bafliaz) towards Herpora/Shopian only between 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM.
- Cut-off: No vehicle is permitted to cross the notified check-posts after the cut-off because of frost and slippery conditions in the late afternoon and evening.
Early mornings remain slippery due to frost, and drivers have been advised to maintain low speeds and strictly follow on-ground instructions from police and field staff.
Sinthan Top (Kishtwar–Sinthan–Anantnag, NH-244)
- Status: CLOSED for all vehicular movement due to snow accumulation at higher elevations.
- No tentative reopening date has been indicated in the latest advisory.
Srinagar–Leh Highway (Zojila / SSG Road)
- Status: OPEN one-way (Kargil → Srinagar), subject to fair weather and BRO clearance.
Direction & Timings:
- Traffic is permitted from Minamarg (Kargil side) towards Srinagar only,
- Between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM (1100–1500 hrs).
Vehicle Category:
- LMVs followed by HMVs (up to 6 tyres) are allowed,
- Anti-skid chains are mandatory due to icy stretches near Zojila.
Travellers have been advised to confirm the latest SSG Road status with local Traffic Control Units (TCUs) or BRO on the morning of travel.
Key Highlights
- NH-44 Status: Open for two-way LMV and HMV traffic, subject to fair weather and road conditions.
- Critical Advisory: Avoid night travel; shooting stones and landslide risk remain high in vulnerable stretches.
- Major Congestion Points: Balinalla, Dewal, Nashri–Dalwas and Marog–Kishtwari Pather single-lane sections.
- Mughal Road: Open for LMVs with anti-skid chains, Chandimarh (Bafliaz) → Herpora/Shopian 10:30 AM–2:30 PM only.
- Sinthan Top: Closed due to snow.
- Zojila (SSG Road) – Srinagar–Leh: One-way Kargil → Srinagar for LMVs and HMVs (up to 6 tyres) with anti-skid chains, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM, subject to BRO clearance.
FAQ Section
A1: Yes. NH-44 is open for traffic from both Jammu and Srinagar sides for LMVs and HMVs, subject to fair weather and road conditions. However, Traffic Police J&K has strongly advised daytime travel only and asked commuters to avoid night journeys due to shooting stones and ongoing construction work in the Ramban–Banihal sector.
A2: Vehicles are allowed on Mughal Road (Shopian–Poonch) from Chandimarh (Bafliaz) towards Herpora/Shopian between 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM only, and anti-skid chains are mandatory. No vehicle is allowed to cross the notified check-posts after the cut-off because of frost and slippery conditions later in the day.
A3: No. The Kishtwar–Sinthan–Anantnag road (NH-244) remains closed for traffic due to snow accumulation at higher reaches. Travellers are advised to use NH-44 or Mughal Road (within the notified time window) where permitted and where conditions allow.
Stay tuned to KittoNews for updated advisories and real-time traffic inputs from Ramban, Qazigund and Banihal.
