Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level meeting today to assess the transportation measures ensuring the smooth movement of fruit consignments from the Kashmir Valley to markets across India. This meeting, held in the union territory, included key officials such as the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, the Secretary of the Transport Department, and others.
Dulloo took detailed stock of the current status of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), focusing on its full operational capacity. He inquired about the movement of fruit-laden trucks from the Valley and emphasized the need for the unhindered passage of essential commodities into and out of Kashmir.
The Chief Secretary issued clear directives that no fruit truck should remain stranded on the highway. Immediate steps were advised to ensure safe and priority passage for these vehicles. He also reviewed the situation concerning vehicles stranded on both sides of NH-44, insisting on immediate clearance.
In a bid to enhance long-distance transportation of horticultural produce, he recommended the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, explore the feasibility of introducing rail freight services. This initiative would support the transport of horticultural products to major markets like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. He urged the need for consultation with fruit growers and coordination with the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Jammu for this aspect.
During the session, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, assured that there are adequate transportation facilities available at reasonable rates, indicating that fruit growers are not facing major logistical hurdles.
Secretary of the Transport Department, Avny Lavasa, further assured that if there should be any shortage of transport vehicles, the J&K SRTC fleet will step in to ensure smooth evacuation of fruit produce from the Valley to markets, offering full support to the farmers.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Chief Secretary Dulloo stated that the administration fully backs seamless transportation of horticultural produce, a crucial element of Kashmir’s economy. He ensured that all departments maintain close coordination and adopt proactive measures, especially as the harvest season progresses.
