There has been a steady increase in the number of private vehicles plying in Jammu & Kashmir capital with public transport off the roads in the state, where the government imposed security lockdown entered its 22nd day on Monday.The movement of private transport is more in upscale areas like Humhama, Hyderpora, Jawahar Nagar, Sanat Nagar, Rajbagh and ResidencyRoad, unlike downtown Srinagar, where even the private vehicles are few.

"My relatives, who live in Habak area of city, returnedhome last week after performing Haj. But I am not taking a chance to visitthem. I will wait till the situation normalises," said Mohammad Amin, wholives in Srinagar's Batamalloo area.The government has eased day-timerestrictions from 69 police station areas in the Valley. "This is anincrease of 19 police station areas from 50 earlier," said governmentspokesperson Rohit Kansal.

But commuting is still not easy as even the state residentsprotesting the abrogation of Article 370 have blocked roads at many places withstones and logs. The security forces have already barricaded roads everywhere.

Multiple blockades have been erected making it difficult forvehicles to ply," said Ghulam Mohammad from Telbal area of Srinagar.

Business establishments too remain closed across the Valley.Shops in some areas open for a few hours in morning (till 9 a.m.) and evening,during which they do brisk business with people desperately buying groceriesand milk.

"We buy vegetables and other food items early morning,which is the best time for this as all the shops are closed for the rest of theday," said Abdul Raheem, who lives in Aluchi Bagh area of Srinagar.