Uri National Highway closed Oct 4 and 11 for BRO hill-cutting work in J&K
Synopsis
The Uri National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir will shut on two consecutive Sundays — 4 and 11 October — for BRO hill-cutting work, with the Bandi–Paranpillan–Dachi route designated as the alternate. The closures are part of a pre-winter infrastructure push on a route critical to both civilian and strategic connectivity in J&K.
Key Takeaways
The Uri National Highway will be closed on 4 October and 11 October 2026 for hill-cutting work by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) .
The closure was authorised by Uri SDM Prince Kumar on the basis of a request from 53 RCC (GREF) .
Commuters are advised to use the Bandi–Paranpillan–Dachi alternate route on both Sundays.
Hill-cutting is barred on working days between 9 am–10:30 am and 3:30 pm–5 pm to keep the road open during peak hours.
The BRO also maintains the Srinagar–Leh and Srinagar–Jammu national highways in Jammu and Kashmir .
The Uri National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed on 4 October and 11 October 2026 to allow the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to carry out hill-cutting operations, according to an official order issued on 3 October. Both closures fall on Sundays, minimising disruption to weekday traffic on the strategically important route.
What the Official Order Says
The closure was authorised by Uri Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Prince Kumar, following a formal request from the Officer Commanding, 53 Road Construction Company (RCC) (GREF), submitted vide a letter dated 11 September and backed by subsequent communications. The order grants permission specifically for temporary highway closure on the two Sundays to enable uninterrupted execution of the hill-cutting work.
Copies of the order have been forwarded to Baramulla Deputy Commissioner Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid, Colonel K.D. Singhal of the 53 RCC at Mohura under Project BEACON, and Uri Sub-Divisional Police Officer Tariq Ahmad Sofi for coordination.
Alternative Route and Traffic Advisories
The SDM has advised commuters, the general public, and transport operators to use the Bandi–Paranpillan–Dachi route as an alternative during both closure periods. Road users are encouraged to plan journeys in advance to avoid delays.
Notably, even on working days, the order restricts hill-cutting activity during peak commuter hours — between 9 am and 10:30 am and between 3:30 pm and 5 pm — when the executing agency must keep the road open for vehicular movement.
Safety Measures Mandated
The BRO and the executing agency have been directed to implement all necessary safety protocols to protect commuters and other road users throughout the duration of the hill-cutting work. The organisation operates 24x7 on highway maintenance across the region.
BRO's Strategic Role in J&K
The BRO maintains not only the Uri National Highway but also the strategically vital Srinagar–Leh and Srinagar–Jammu national highways in Jammu and Kashmir. These routes are critical for civilian connectivity and defence logistics, particularly as winter approaches and some alternate passes become impassable. Hill-cutting and road-widening operations are typically accelerated during the pre-winter window, making the Sunday closures part of a broader seasonal push to upgrade infrastructure before snowfall.
Commuters on the Uri highway are advised to monitor updates from district authorities before travel on 4 October and 11 October.
Point of View
But it points to something bigger: the BRO is racing against the winter calendar. The Uri corridor feeds into one of India's most sensitive border belts, and upgrades here carry both civilian and defence significance. The decision to restrict cutting during morning and evening commuter windows reflects lessons learned from past disruptions on J&K highways, where poor traffic management during construction has caused cascading delays. The question that district authorities will need to answer is whether the Bandi–Paranpillan–Dachi alternate is adequately signposted and has the surface quality to absorb diverted traffic — details that official orders rarely specify but that matter most to the people on the road.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Uri National Highway being closed on October 4 and 11?
The Uri National Highway is being temporarily closed on both dates to allow the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to carry out hill-cutting work without disruption to traffic. The closures are limited to Sundays to reduce the impact on commuters and were authorised by the Uri Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
What is the alternate route during the Uri highway closure?
Commuters have been advised to use the Bandi–Paranpillan–Dachi route as an alternative during the closure on 4 October and 11 October 2026. Transport operators and the general public are urged to plan journeys accordingly.
Will there be restrictions on working days as well?
Yes, on government office working days, hill-cutting work is prohibited between 9 am and 10:30 am and between 3:30 pm and 5 pm. During these windows, the road will remain open for normal vehicular movement.
Who issued the order for the Uri highway closure?
The order was issued by Uri Sub-Divisional Magistrate Prince Kumar on 3 October 2026. Copies were sent to Baramulla Deputy Commissioner Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid, Colonel K.D. Singhal of 53 RCC, and Uri Sub-Divisional Police Officer Tariq Ahmad Sofi.
Which other highways does the BRO maintain in Jammu and Kashmir?
In addition to the Uri National Highway, the BRO maintains the strategically important Srinagar–Leh and Srinagar–Jammu national highways in Jammu and Kashmir, operating on a 24x7 basis.
