CM flags urgency, Nitin Gadkari assures priority passage
Srinagar, Sep 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday flagged urgency for the restoration of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, saying that the fruit cannot wait, with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari assuring priority passage of fruit-laden trucks.
Participating in a high-level virtual meeting chaired by Union Minister Gadkari to review the status of restoration of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, CM Omar highlighted the difficulties faced by fruit growers and traders due to the prolonged closure of the highway and urged the Union Minister for uninterrupted passage for heavy vehicles.
He said while blacktopping and maintenance of the road were 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 the Mughal Road. This is the only route available for them, and a huge number of trucks are stranded on the Kashmir side alone. Clearing this backlog is crucial,” the CM said.
He said that the fruit season is at its peak, and further delays in transportation are causing heavy losses to growers and traders.
CM Omar emphasised that while small vehicles could be diverted, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway must remain open for heavy traffic until all stranded vehicles are cleared.
He stressed that blacktopping works should only be undertaken after backlog traffic on both sides is fully cleared.
Union Minister Gadkari assured the CM that his concerns would be addressed.
He said the backlog of trucks and other heavy vehicles would be cleared on priority before blacktopping resumes.
CM Omar asked Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo to ensure lane discipline and to regulate traffic on the highway to facilitate smooth clearance.
On Monday, Minister for Agriculture Javid Dar inspected the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway to make a firsthand assessment of the ground situation and subsequently briefed the CM in detail about the prevailing condition of the road.
Taking note of the disruptions on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and the loss of vital connectivity with the rest of the country, CM Omar spoke with the Union Minister to convey the urgency of the matter.
It was in this backdrop that the review meeting was convened, following the CM’s telephonic request to Union Minister Gadkari.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana, Javid Dar, and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM, Dheeraj Gupta, along with senior officials of NHAI, NHIDCL, and other concerned agencies, both in person and virtually.
