Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting aimed at enhancing the transportation of fruit consignments from the Kashmir Valley to markets beyond the Union Territory. The meeting took place in Srinagar and included key officials from various departments.
Participants included the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Secretary of the Transport Department, Inspector General of Traffic, and the Secretary of the Agriculture Production Department, among others. The assembly sought to align efforts for the efficient movement of food products, particularly fruits, which are a vital part of the local economy.
At the meeting, Chief Secretary Dulloo assessed the current state of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44). He inquired about its restoration process to ensure it reaches full operational capacity. Timely movement of fruit-laden trucks from the Valley remains a priority, as these vehicles play a crucial role in supplying markets across the country.
Dulloo emphasized that no fruit trucks should remain stranded on NH-44 and tasked relevant departments with guaranteeing safe and priority passage for these transport vehicles. He also directed immediate clearance of any vehicles stranded on either side of the highway.
In exploring alternatives for long-distance transportation, the Chief Secretary proposed the idea of introducing rail freight services. This initiative aims to transport horticultural produce to major urban markets like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. He urged consultation with local fruit growers and coordination with the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Jammu, to evaluate the viability of this method.
The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, updated the assembly that adequate transportation facilities are being offered at reasonable rates, indicating that local fruit growers are currently not facing significant logistical hurdles.
Avny Lavasa, Secretary of the Transport Department, assured that in the event of any shortage of transport vehicles, the J&K SRTC fleet would be deployed to facilitate the smooth evacuation of fruit produce from the Valley to outer markets, ensuring comprehensive support for fruit producers.
Chief Secretary Dulloo reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to ensuring seamless transportation of horticultural produce, a critical pillar of Kashmir’s economy. He called for all departments to maintain close coordination and adopt proactive measures to ensure uninterrupted movement of fruit consignments during the ongoing harvest season.
