CM urges smooth movement of fruit-laden trucks to ease crisis
Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today took part in a high-level virtual meeting chaired by Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari to review the restoration of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
Highlighting the severe difficulties faced by fruit growers and traders due to the highway’s prolonged closure, the Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to ensure uninterrupted passage for heavy vehicles. He emphasized that while road blacktopping and maintenance are important, they should not cause extended disruption to essential traffic.
“Blacktopping can wait. But large vehicles, particularly 4-axle and 5-axle trucks, cannot be diverted via the Mughal Road. This is the only viable route for them, and thousands of trucks are stranded on the Kashmir side. Clearing this backlog is critical,” the Chief Minister said.
He added that the fruit season is at its peak, and delays in transportation are leading to significant losses for growers and traders. While small vehicles can be diverted, NH-44 must remain open for heavy traffic until all stranded vehicles are cleared. Blacktopping should only proceed once the backlog is fully addressed.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured the Chief Minister that these concerns would be prioritized. He confirmed that the backlog of trucks and other heavy vehicles would be cleared before blacktopping work resumes. The Chief Minister also instructed the Chief Secretary to ensure lane discipline and regulate traffic to facilitate smooth movement on the highway.
Yesterday, Minister for Agriculture Javid Dar conducted an on-site inspection of the National Highway and briefed the Chief Minister on its current condition. Noting the disruption on NH-44 and the loss of vital connectivity with the rest of the country, the Chief Minister conveyed the urgency of the situation to the Union Minister, prompting the review meeting.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana, Javid Dar, and Satish Sharma, CM Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, and senior officials from NHAI, NHIDCL, and other concerned agencies, both in person and virtually.
