Kashmir’s fruit industry choked as heavy trucks banned on Mughal Road

Shopian, Aug 30: Traders and growers in Kashmir have warned of massive losses after the Mughal Road—currently the only viable alternative to the closed Jammu-Srinagar National Highway—was restricted to six-tyre trucks, leaving larger 10-tyre vehicles off-limits.

The Jammu-Srinagar highway has remained shut for the past four days following landslides at multiple locations, stranding thousands of tonnes of freshly harvested pears and early apple varieties at mandis in Sopore, Shopian, and Pulwama. To ease the crisis, officials allowed traffic through Mughal Road, which connects south Kashmir to Jammu via the Pir Panjal range. But growers say the restrictions have failed to address the crisis.

“Six-tyre trucks are not available in large numbers. Most of our crop is already loaded in 10-tyre vehicles, but they are not being allowed. If the authorities permit them, we can save our harvest from rotting,” said Mohammad Ashraf Wani, president of Fruit Mandi Shopian.

With the harvest season for pears and early high-density apple varieties underway, growers say delays in transporting produce to mandis in Delhi and other cities could spell disaster. “Pears are highly perishable. If they don’t reach markets on time, they will rot in the orchards,” said a grower from Shopian.

Kashmir’s horticulture sector employs around 3 million people and contributes nearly 8% to the region’s GDP. The apple industry alone generates revenues worth billions of rupees annually. Traders warn that prolonged transport disruptions will trigger a cascading effect, crippling livelihoods across the Valley.

For drivers, Mughal Road remains a challenging option. The high-altitude stretch lacks fuel stations, repair workshops, and even mobile connectivity. A tyre burst or accident can leave drivers stranded for hours without emergency help.

“The government has approved funds for a tunnel on Mughal Road, which may make it an all-weather alternative in the future. But that is years away. For now, we need basic facilities and a clear policy allowing bigger trucks,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a cultivator from Shopian.

Officials argue that permitting 10-tyre trucks on the steep mountainous road raises safety concerns. But traders insist the restriction is crippling the Valley’s fruit economy.

“We appeal to the administration to intervene urgently. Lakhs of families depend on horticulture, and the blockade of 10-tyre trucks is choking the economy,” said a group of apple cultivators from Shopian.