Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday reviewed ongoing restoration works at the severely damaged Tharad stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. This was his second visit to the site amid growing concern over hundreds of stranded trucks, including those carrying Kashmiri apples to markets outside the Valley and essential supplies such as fuel.
On Tuesday, Abdullah attended a high-level virtual meeting chaired by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to assess the status of highway restoration. The highway suffered major damage following record rainfall on August 26 and 27.
“During his on-site review of NH-44, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Minister Javed Ahmad Rana, directed officials to expedite the restoration process, stressing that the prolonged closure is severely affecting supplies, especially fresh fruit,” the Chief Minister’s Office posted on X.
A three-kilometre stretch between Tharad and Balli Nalla in Udhampur district was buried under a massive landslide, while several other sections between Jhakani and Nashri, and Peerah and Banihal, also sustained heavy damage.
Officials briefed Abdullah on the current conditions and assured him that every effort was being made to keep the highway operational despite recurring bad weather. The Chief Minister instructed the chief secretary to enforce lane discipline and regulate traffic to speed up clearance. He also met families whose homes were damaged and assured them of proper rehabilitation.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Abdullah raised concerns about the hardships faced by fruit growers and traders due to the prolonged closure. He urged the Union Minister to allow uninterrupted passage of heavy vehicles, noting that blacktopping and maintenance should not come at the cost of essential traffic movement.
“Blacktopping can wait, but heavy trucks—especially 4-axle and 5-axle vehicles—cannot be diverted through Mughal Road. This is their only viable route. Clearing the backlog of stranded trucks is crucial, especially with the fruit season at its peak,” he said.
Gadkari assured Abdullah that the concerns would be addressed and promised that stranded trucks and heavy vehicles would be cleared on priority before road blacktopping resumes.
