Srinagar, Sept 17: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has called for the creation of an exclusive transport corridor on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) for fruit-laden trucks, describing horticulture as the backbone of Kashmir’s economy and the highway as its jugular vein. Addressing reporters in Srinagar, Mufti accused the government of mishandling the crisis and criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for what she termed as a “delayed and half-hearted response” to the plight of fruit growers and traders.
She argued that the recently initiated parcel train service, while welcome, would have limited impact given its restricted carrying capacity. “The train service cannot carry the massive volumes of apple consignments waiting to be transported. What is needed is a dedicated corridor for fruit trucks. If trucks are allowed to move from Qazigund by 6 p.m. and ply exclusively between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then and only then will growers see any real relief,” Mufti stressed.
Lashing out at the government’s handling of the issue, the PDP chief said that Omar Abdullah’s intervention came too late. “Omar Sahab called Gadkari Ji, but this should have been done 15 days earlier when the situation started worsening. Everyone knows that the National Highway has always been under the Centre, whether during Dr Farooq’s time, Mufti Sahab’s time, or my own. Saying it is not under his control is simply shirking responsibility,” she remarked.
Mufti reminded that successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of political affiliation, had always recognized the importance of the horticulture sector and acted swiftly to keep the highway functional in times of crisis. “Fruit is the mainstay of Kashmir’s economy. If growers cannot send their produce on time, the losses are irreparable. Sadly, this time the growers and traders have been left in uncertainty without any assurance on how long the road will remain open for heavy vehicles,” she said.
The PDP president reiterated that the fruit industry, which employs lakhs of families and contributes significantly to the region’s GDP, cannot afford prolonged disruptions. She urged both the J&K government and the Centre to act with urgency and sensitivity. “This is not just about transport—it is about protecting the livelihood of lakhs of families. The government must stop making excuses and instead provide solutions,” she added.