Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Oct 31: The government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that while NH-44 is the main all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, alternate routes including Mughal Road and Sinthan-Doda-Jammu road remain available during closures.
The reply came in response to a starred question raised by MLA Ghulam Ahmad Mir, regarding frequent closures of NH-44 and its impact on essential supplies and the horticulture sector.
The response was given by the Minister In-charge Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments.
Officials stated that the highway had been closed on 26 August 2025 due to heavy slides at Samroli and Bali Nallah in Udhampur district and was reopened on 29 August 2025 after clearance. Traffic movement was again restored on 2 September 2025 after temporary repairs.
The government said restoration measures were taken up immediately, with DPRs initiated for additional viaducts at vulnerable stretches. Mughal Road was made fully functional to ensure smooth movement of fruit-laden trucks, while JKSRTC vehicles were arranged to overcome truck shortages.
The department has also tied up with railways and registered traders to facilitate apple dispatch to other parts of the country. During the road blockade period, over 1.25 lakh apple boxes were transported from Budgam and Anantnag to Jammu and Delhi by train, while around 9 lakh boxes had been dispatched via trains till 23 October 2025.
The government added that CA stores are being strengthened to avoid losses and farmers have been advised about deferred harvesting during NH-44 disruptions.
On ensuring better market rates for fruit, the government said 24 mandis have been established across J&K while 13 more are under development. More than 55,000 farmers/traders have been registered on the e-NAM platform, enabling trade worth over Rs 1,046 crore in the last five years.
Buyer-seller meets, exposure visits, training programmes and awareness camps are also being organized to link Kashmiri fruit growers with domestic and international markets, officials said. (KNO)
