Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has assured J&K government that restoration work on Jammu-Srinagar Highway was going on war footing despite landslides . He said backlog of fruit trucks and other heavy vehicles would be cleared on priority basis soon after blacktopping work gets resumed.
The assurances from the Union minister came after J&K Chief Minister connected with him in a meeting via video conference which was held to convey concerns of huge economic loss to traders and fruit growers in particular. Highlighting the difficulties faced by fruit growers and traders due to prolonged closure of the highway, the Chief Minister urged the Union Minister for uninterrupted passage for heavy vehicles. He said while blacktopping and maintenance of the road is necessary, it must not come at the cost of prolonged disruption of vital traffic movement.
“Blacktopping can wait for its turn. But large vehicles, especially 4-axle and 5-axle trucks, cannot be diverted through Mughal Road. This is the only route available for them, and huge number of trucks stranded on the Kashmir side alone, clearing this backlog is crucial,” the Chief Minister said.He added that the fruit season is at its peak and further delays in transportation are causing heavy losses to growers and traders.The road is vital not only for commuters but also for the transportation of essential goods and supplies to the Valley, he added highlighting its significance .
Officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH), the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and representatives from the J-K government were present during the discussion. In a social media post on X, Chief Minister Abdullah wrote, "Attended a video conference with @nitin_gadkari ji. Officials of @MORTHIndia & @nhidcl were present along with officials of the J&K government. The condition of NH 44 was discussed in considerable detail. The Union Minister issued some instructions that are aimed at addressing the current crisis and we expect to see those implemented immediately so that regular movement of trucks is no longer hindered."
Earlier today, Jammu and Kashmir PWD Principal Secretary Anil Kumar Singh visited Thard village to oversee the restoration work of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway-44, which was damaged following landslides and shooting stones in the Udhampur district. Kashmir-bound trucks were stranded at various points on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) in Udhampur as movement of heavy motor vehicles has been restricted on the Highway from the Jakhani area onwards. Earlier too, long traffic jams were witnessed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) at Thard in Jammu and Kashmir's (J-K) Udhampur district, as single-lane movement left thousands of vehicles stranded.
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