SRINAGAR, Sept 9: A delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir Fruits & Vegetable Processing & Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) on Monday called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Raabita Public Outreach Office and raised concerns over the frequent closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway during the ongoing peak fruit season.
The delegation urged the government to ensure the uninterrupted movement of fruit and vegetable-laden trucks from Kashmir to markets outside the valley. They demanded streamlined passage for trucks, avoidance of arbitrary halts, identification of alternate routes, establishment of a dedicated transport corridor, and priority status for fruit transportation. The members also pressed for the immediate commencement of a Railway Cargo Service to facilitate faster and direct dispatch of Kashmir’s fruit produce to national markets.
Responding to the concerns, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured the delegation that the government is fully cognizant of the gravity of the situation. He said that the restoration of NH-44 is being monitored on an hourly basis and that all possible measures are being taken to restore connectivity at the earliest.
The Chief Minister further emphasized that long-term strategies are being explored to prevent disruptions in future peak seasons. He also informed the delegation that the proposal for the Railway Cargo Service has already been taken up with the Union Ministry of Railways and that additional rakes have been requested to ensure smooth transportation of the valley’s produce to outside mandis.
