Srinagar, Sept 15: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has assured him of urgent and concrete measures within the next 24 hours to tackle the crisis on National Highway-44 (NH-44), the Valley’s crucial lifeline that has remained disrupted for days. The continued blockade of the highway has left Kashmir virtually cut off from the rest of the country, creating severe hardships for commuters, traders, and especially fruit growers whose produce is rotting en route to markets.
In a post on X, Omar Abdullah said he had spoken directly to Gadkari about the worsening situation. “Just spoke to Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari Sb regarding the situation along NH-44 & the lack of connectivity with the rest of the country along this vital link,” Omar wrote. He acknowledged the “frustration of fruit growers,” noting that while they had shown remarkable patience during the initial days of the disruption, “watching their hard work rot has become unbearable.”
The Chief Minister strongly criticised the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), pointing out its repeated inability to stabilise and maintain the highway despite its critical importance to the region. “NHIDCL has been unable to stabilise the highway, and the patience of the growers and traders has worn thin — and that is totally understandable,” he wrote.
According to Omar, Gadkari assured him that specific steps will be announced and executed within the next 24 hours to restore normalcy on the highway. However, Omar said he would reserve further comments on the government’s proposed plan of action until those measures are implemented on the ground. “Some concrete steps will be taken within the next 24 hours to address this problem but I will wait for that to happen before I say any more about the proposed plan of action,” his post concluded.
The crisis on NH-44 has dealt a severe blow to Kashmir’s fruit industry, a key pillar of the Union Territory’s economy. With thousands of trucks stranded and perishable goods at risk, farmers and traders have been demanding immediate intervention from both the Centre and the state government. The highway’s closure has also disrupted the movement of essential commodities, creating shortages and affecting daily life across the Valley.