Jammu : Expressing deep concern over the heavy traffic jam of trucks all along the route from Lakhanpur to Jammu for the last 15 days, Deepak Gupta, President of the biggest wholesale grain market of Jammu and Kashmir, has said that traffic is disturbed on the National Highway from Jammu to Srinagar but it is not understood why trucks coming to Jammu are being stopped at Lakhanpur. Deepak Gupta, President Traders Federation Warehouse-Nehru Market, said that trucks coming to Jammu are first stopped at Lakhanpur, then at Raya Morh and then at Badi Brahmana, due to which it is taking four to six days for the trucks to reach Jammu from Lakhanpur. Deepak Gupta said that due to this the essential supply in Jammu is being badly affected and all this is happening due to mismanagement of the traffic department. Gupta said that the Srinagar highway is closed, but trucks traveling from Jammu to Udhampur are also being stopped by traffic police. For the past 15 days, supplies from Jammu to Udhampur, Rajouri-Poonch, Doda-Kishtwar, and Bhaderwah have also been severely affected.
While addressing a press conference in the Federation office on Saturday, Gupta expressed serious concern over the severe economic hardships and disruptions faced by the business community in Jammu. He said, our region has been severely impacted by a dual crisis, the tragic terror attack on April 22, 2025, and the subsequent war-like situation due to which the tourist inflow has drastically declined, resulting in immense losses to local businesses. This has been compounded by a series of devastating natural calamities, including heavy rains, landslides, cloud bursts and flash floods across many parts of Jammu division. The situation on the ground becomes dire, because of a cloud burst in Chakosti. The track of Mata Vaishno Devi was also severely damaged. Heavy Rainfall and flash floods have caused several bridges collapsed and the rising water level of the Tawi River has submerged vast areas. These events have left a majority of business activities non-functional. After all this, the traders were hopeful that the situation would gradually become normal but due to traffic mismanagement, everything is getting worse. Gupta said that the Jammu trade is facing massive losses as trucks remain stranded for days, while perishable supplies such as vegetables, dairy products, poultry, and livestock have been severely affected. Shortages of groceries, household goods and other commodities are putting additional strain on consumers, traders and transporters alike. He appealed to IGP Traffic to personally intervene in this matter and ensure smooth movement of trucks from Lakhanpur to Jammu and onwards.
Deepak Gupta also appealed to the Hon’ble Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari to waveoff the toll tax from Lakhanpur to Srinagar Until the highway is completely smooth.
Taking on the Power Development Department, Deepak Gupta said that after a week of floods and rains, the department claimed that they have repaired the entire supply line, but I want to ask the Chief Engineer of the electricity department that if the supply line was repaired then why has the power supply not been restored fully till date? Today even after more than 25 days we are not getting electricity. Electricity remains off the whole day. Our traders are not able to make bills on the computer. E-way bills are not being generated. Inverters are not working. He appealed to the Chief Engineer to pay attention to this issue and address the power curtailment on priority.
Demanding special events to attract devotees from different parts of the country during the Navratri festival starting from Monday, Deepak Gupta said that everyone knows that the business of Jammu is dependent on the tourism industry. Therefore, during Navratri, such programs should be organized in Jammu also so that the tourism here can flourish again. He appealed to the Tourism Department, Jammu, to organize religious programs at the Bawe Mata temple during Navratri. He also appealed to Jammu Smart City Limited that just as Tawi Aarti was performed daily during the aAnnual Amarnath Yatra, similarly special Aarti should be performed on Tawi River during the entire Navratri. He said that these efforts will help in bringing the business of Jammu back on track.
Sham Lal Gupta, Ex. Sr. Vice President Traders Federation, Rajesh Bhagotra, President Sugar Association, Dheeraj Mahajan, Senior vice-president, Traders Federation, Vishal Gupta, Vc. President, Abhimanyu Gupta, General Secretary, Rahul Gupta, Secretary and Nitish Gupta, Cashier of Federation were also present in the press conference.