Highway closure forces two-day shutdown of Sopore fruit mandi

Sopore, Sept 08: The Asia’s second largest fruit mandi in Sopore will remain closed on September 9 and 10 due to the continued closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The decision was announced by the President of Sopore Fruit Mandi, Fayaz Ahmad Malik, popularly known as Kaka Ji.

Speaking to reporters, Malik said the disruption of fruit transportation caused by the highway closure has left traders and growers with no choice but to suspend operations. “After holding a general meeting with traders and stakeholders, it was unanimously decided to keep the mandi shut for two days,” he said.

The Sopore Fruit Mandi serves as a lifeline for Kashmir’s fruit industry, linking apple growers with markets across India. The temporary halt in its operations is expected to affect thousands of growers and traders, underlining the Valley’s dependence on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for smooth economic activity.

Traders have expressed concern that prolonged disruptions could lead to heavy losses, especially at a time when the apple harvesting season is at its peak. They appealed to the authorities to ensure immediate restoration of traffic on the national highway to prevent further economic setbacks. [KNT]