Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level meeting today to assess the arrangements for the transportation of fruit consignments from the Kashmir Valley to markets outside the Union Territory. The meeting brought together key officials, including the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Secretary of the Transport Department, and other relevant stakeholders.
During the meeting, Dulloo evaluated the current status of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) and its restoration to full operational capacity. He expressed concern about the movement of fruit-laden trucks from the Valley and the unhindered passage of essential commodities into Kashmir.
The Chief Secretary directed that no fruit truck should remain stranded on the highway. He instructed concerned departments to ensure safe and priority passage for these vehicles. Additionally, he reviewed the situation concerning vehicles stranded on both sides of NH-44 and directed for their immediate clearance.
Dulloo further emphasized exploring long-distance transportation alternatives. He encouraged the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir to consider introducing rail freight services for transporting horticultural produce to major markets such as Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. He noted the importance of consulting with fruit growers and coordinating with the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Jammu, to evaluate this option.
The Divisional Commissioner responded by stating that adequate transportation facilities are available at reasonable rates and that fruit growers are not facing major logistical hurdles in the current scenario.
Secretary of the Transport Department, Avny Lavasa, assured the Chief Secretary that should there be a shortage of transport vehicles, the J&K SRTC fleet would be deployed to guarantee the smooth evacuation of fruit produce from the Valley to outside markets, extending full support to fruit growers.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Dulloo affirmed that the administration is fully dedicated to ensuring seamless transportation of horticultural produce, a key pillar of Kashmir’s economy. He urged all departments to maintain close coordination and adopt proactive measures to ensure the smooth movement of fruit consignments throughout the ongoing harvest season.
