Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway has remained suspended for many days now. Hundreds of trucks carrying fruits, vegetables, and essentials have remained stranded on the highway for days. The highway is in a dilapidated state, particularly the 300-meter stretch between Nashri and Udhampur, after recent rains triggered landslides. Srinagar-Jammu national highway, also known as NH 44, passes through steep mountains and is prone to landslides. Sensing the gravity of the situation, the government had started a road-widening project in 2011. A 4-lane, 2.35 km bypass was commissioned early this year. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 224.44 crore, the bypass features 4 viaducts spanning 1,513 meters and 3 culverts, effectively addressing the persistent bottleneck in Bainhal town. Similarly, several tunnels have been built to ensure smooth traffic and cut the travel time. The government achieved most of the goals, yet the record rainfall last week of August brought back grim memories of long highway blockades. What has added a new dimension to the crisis is the massive losses suffered by the fruit growers this time round. August-September are the months when the apple crop is harvested and shipped to outside mandies. Due to abrupt rain and highway blockade, a large number of apple trucks are stranded on the highway. Fruit growers are receiving panic calls from the drivers about the fruit decaying in transit. On average, around 1,500 apple trucks roll out of Parimpora towards markets in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. But with the highway closed, the mandi’s warehouses are overflowing, traders have stopped procurement, and the piles of unsold fruit are beginning to spoil. Prolonged blockade of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway will lead to the collapse of the apple economy in Kashmir. Experts have warned that the crisis could have a ripple effect on other sectors, given horticulture’s crucial role in the J&K economy. The agriculture and allied sectors account for more than 78 percent of the Union Territory’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), providing livelihood to over 13 lakh families. The horticulture sector is the only hope since its revenue percolates to the lowest denominator of society. In the dark clouds, the parcel train has proven to be the silver lining. Parcel train service from Budgam to Adarsh Nagar (Delhi) is seen as a lifeline for apple growers and a timely intervention that will bring immense relief to the horticulture sector. Each train has 8 parcel van coaches, and the weight capacity per coach is 23 tonnes. Rightly so, farmers have demanded that the service be extended to the Sopore mandi. Sopore, being the home of Asia’s second biggest fruit mandi, is a major hub for apple trade. The Centre should consider extending parcel train services to Sopore. It will help the distressed farmers whose produce is decaying in warehouses.
Highway pangs
