Srinagar, Sep 22: Over 1.3 lakh metric tonnes of fresh fruits have been transported from Kashmir to markets across the country in the past 10 days, officials said on Monday.
Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg, during a press conference, stated that 1,500-2,000 trucks loaded with fruits and other essential supplies leave the valley daily, moving via the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and the Mughal Road on alternate days.
“In the last 10 days, 1.37 lakh metric tonnes of fruit have been dispatched through the national highway, Mughal Road, and the newly operational parcel train,” Garg said. He added that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been implemented to ensure smooth transportation, coordinated by the district administration, BRO, traffic, and National Highway authorities. Traffic police monitor the SOP around the clock.
The SOP follows a pattern: when traffic moves from Srinagar to Jammu via the national highway, the upward movement from Jammu to Srinagar occurs via the Mughal Road, alternating daily to ensure uninterrupted supply.
Garg noted that after recent highway restoration efforts following weather disruptions and landslides, truck movement has increased significantly. “Earlier, 1,500-2,000 trucks used to ply daily; now 3,500-4,000 trucks are moving. Today, nearly 2,000 trucks from Qazigund are headed to Jammu and are expected to arrive by evening,” he said. On the Mughal Road, 1,800-1,900 trucks moved towards Jammu on Sunday to prioritize fruit transportation.
The newly introduced parcel train service from Kashmir to New Delhi is also operational, carrying 800-1,000 tonnes of fresh fruits daily. Farmers from north and south Kashmir can now conveniently load produce at Baramulla and Anantnag stations.
Garg assured residents that essential supplies, including petrol, diesel, LPG, food, and consumer goods, are sufficient. “There is a full week’s stock of fuel and food items, which will be replenished regularly. People are requested not to believe rumours or engage in panic buying,” he said.