Srinagar, Jul 31: With the harvesting of early apple varieties gaining momentum, Kashmir’s horticulture sector has voiced growing concern over repeated disruptions on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, urging the administration to ensure uninterrupted movement of fruit-laden trucks to markets across the country.
Growers and traders said recurring traffic interruptions caused by landslides, flash floods, shooting stones, road maintenance, and restrictions associated with the ongoing Amarnath Yatra have begun affecting the transportation of fresh produce, raising fears of financial losses during the crucial marketing season.
Kashmir’s apple industry, which supports lakhs of families and contributes close to Rs 12,000 crore annually to J&K’s economy, depends almost entirely on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for transporting fruit to wholesale markets in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and other parts of the country.
Stakeholders said any delay on the highway directly affects the quality and market value of the produce, particularly early-season varieties like Gala apples and plums, which have a relatively short shelf life.
President of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Union, Bashir Ahmad Basheer, said growers were anxious as fruit dispatches had coincided with weather-related disruptions and traffic regulation on the highway.
“We appeal to the administration to treat fruit-laden trucks as a priority. Perishable produce cannot remain stranded for long, and every delay translates into losses for growers. We also hope the authorities will restore traffic quickly whenever the highway is affected by adverse weather,” he said.
Basheer said transporters have also been affected by traffic management measures in place during the annual Amarnath Yatra. Acknowledging the importance of the yatra, he appealed to the authorities to devise a mechanism that allows fruit trucks to move without prolonged waiting periods.
“The harvesting of Gala apples and plums has already begun, and buyers from outside J&K expect timely deliveries. We have started receiving complaints about delayed consignments. This can affect both our reputation and the prices growers receive,” he said.
According to the union, nearly 100 to 120 trucks loaded with fruit leave Kashmir every day during the present harvesting phase. Growers believe this volume can be managed efficiently if dedicated time slots or priority movement are provided for vehicles carrying perishable goods.
Although the administration has advised transporters to use the Mughal Road whenever the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway faces disruption, traders said the alternative route is not suitable for large-scale fruit transportation.
Javed Ahmad, a fruit trader from Sopore, said infrastructure limitations make the road an impractical option for most transporters.
“The Mughal Road is still not equipped to handle the majority of trucks used for transporting apples. Most consignments move in 12-tyre and 16-tyre trucks, whereas the alternative route is better suited for smaller vehicles. Transporters are therefore reluctant to take that route,” he said.
Traders also pointed out that repeated traffic restrictions during the harvest season create uncertainty in the supply chain.
They said while temporary closures for emergency repairs may sometimes be unavoidable, advance planning and better coordination could minimise disruption to the horticulture sector.
The issue has also drawn the attention of political leaders, who have urged the administration to strike a balance between facilitating the Amarnath Yatra, undertaking highway maintenance and protecting the interests of the Valley’s horticulture industry.
Growers have called for the creation of a dedicated corridor or priority passage for fruit-laden trucks until the harvesting season concludes.
They also sought better coordination between traffic authorities, highway agencies, and district administrations to provide real-time updates on road conditions so that transporters can plan their journeys accordingly.
