Srinagar, Jun 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police on Wednesday issued a detailed advisory for the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY) 2026, imposing strict cut-off timings for convoys and private vehicles on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and the two pilgrimage routes, officials said.
The restrictions, effective from July 2 to August 28, have been put in place in view of the annual pilgrimage coinciding with the peak tourist season and Muharram observances in the Valley, they said.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic J&K, M. Suleman Choudhary issued an order specifying departure timings for convoys on the Baltal and Pahalgam axes, officials added.
On the Baltal route, the UP convoy will depart Jammu at 0400 hours, Lamber (Bainhal) at 1000 hours, and Manigam Ganderbal at 1700 hours, while the DOWN convoy will leave Baltal at 0600 hours and Lamber at 1130 hours, the order said.
For the Pahalgam route, the UP convoy will depart Jammu at 0415 hours and Lamber at 1045 hours, and the DOWN convoy will leave Pahalgam at 0600 hours, Nunwan at 0630 hours, and Lamber at 0800 hours, according to the order.
Authorities have also fixed cut-off timings for non-convoy and tourist vehicles. The last vehicle towards the Valley must cross the NAVYUG Tunnel by 1500 hours, while the last vehicle towards Anantnag must cross Mir Bazar by 1600 hours, officials said.
For Baltal, the last vehicle towards Manigam must cross Peaks Crossing, Lassjan by 1500 hours, and the cut-off for crossing Manigam Transit Camp towards Baltal is 1700 hours. Return traffic from Baltal must leave the base camp by 0900 hours, and the last vehicle towards Anantnag must cross Pantha Chowk by 1500 hours, they added.
From Nunwan, Pahalgam, the last vehicle towards Jammu must cross by 1000 hours, while the last vehicle crossing Mir Bazar towards NAVYUG Tunnel is permitted till 1700 hours, officials said.
The advisory warned that no yatri or tourist vehicle will be allowed to cross the NAVYUG Tunnel towards Kashmir, and no vehicle will be permitted from Pahalgam towards Jammu/Srinagar, from Sonamarg towards Srinagar, or from Gulmarg towards Srinagar after 1800 hours.
“After withdrawal of ROP, i.e., 1800 hours, no vehicle of yatri/tourist shall be allowed further movement. Concerned Police/Traffic/SFs shall bring such vehicles to the nearest yatri/SFs camp,” the advisory stated.
Pilgrims and tourists have been advised to travel only between 0700 hours and 1800 hours in the Valley and plan their journey accordingly to reach their destinations within the stipulated time frame, officials said.
This year’s Amarnath Yatra coincides with the tourist season and Muharram processions, presenting a unique challenge for the administration, officials noted.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, had earlier appealed to the media, voluntary organisations, and citizens to shoulder collective responsibility in ensuring smooth traffic management. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, has assured that all arrangements have been put in place for the seamless conduct of both the Yatra and Muharram observances.
The traffic police have released helpline numbers for yatris and tourists: TCU Jammu (0191-2459048, 0191-2740550, 9419147732, 103), TCU Srinagar (0194-2450022, 2485396, 18001807091, 103), TCU NHW Ramban (9419993745, 1800-180-7043), and TCU Udhampur (8491928625).
The advisory is applicable only to yatris, yatra convoys, and tourists. For other heavy motor vehicles, light motor vehicles, and security forces convoys, the public has been advised to refer to the daily traffic advisory issued by the Traffic Police, officials added.
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