Srinagar, Sept 16 – More than 2,200 fruit-laden trucks were cleared along the Mughal Road in the past 24 hours, bringing relief to fruit growers and traders in Kashmir, Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir Anshul Garg said Monday.
Garg personally inspected the route at Peer Ki Gali to assess traffic conditions and ensure smooth passage for the trucks. He also visited the Fruit Mandi at Aglar in Shopian, where he held discussions with growers, traders, transporters and representatives of the horticulture sector.
“The administration remains committed to prioritizing the movement of fruit trucks while also safeguarding uninterrupted supplies of fuel and other essential commodities to the valley,” Garg said. He credited the swift evacuation of vehicles to coordinated efforts between the civil administration and security agencies, adding that the intervention eased pressure on the horticulture sector during the peak harvest season.
Leaders of the industry welcomed the move. Mohammad Ashraf, president of the Fruit Growers and Traders Association, thanked the Chief Secretary of J&K for “timely and prompt intervention” that ensured smooth transport.
Garg appealed to all stakeholders to follow traffic rules and adhere to designated timings for vehicle movement to maintain order on the Mughal Road. He said restoration work on the National Highway is being carried out on a war footing to further strengthen connectivity.
During his visit, the Div Com was accompanied by senior officials including Director FCS&CA Owais Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner Shopian Shishir Gupta, SSP Shopian Anayat Ali, SSP Traffic, and officers from the Border Roads Organisation and district administration. Deputy Commissioner Poonch and SSP Poonch also coordinated from the other end of the route.
