Kulgam, Sep 2: Former MLA Devsar and senior Congress leader Mohammad Amin Bhat has voiced serious concern over the persistent hardships faced by Kashmiri fruit growers due to frequent closures of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44), urging the central government to take urgent corrective measures.
While talking with JKNS News Correspondent Kousar Gull, Mohammad Amin Bhat Said that, for yet another season, hundreds of fruit-laden trucks have been left stranded on the highway, resulting in substantial losses for growers who rely heavily on timely transport of their perishable produce.
In a direct appeal to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Bhat called for the introduction of a dedicated train service from the Kashmir Valley to New Delhi, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted and efficient transportation of fruits, especially during the peak harvest season.
“Such a measure would bring much-needed relief to growers and traders who suffer every year due to road blockades,” Bhat stated, emphasizing the devastating impact on the horticulture sector — a key pillar of Kashmir’s economy.
Bhat further urged the Railway Ministry to treat the issue as a priority, pointing out that thousands of families across the Valley are directly dependent on fruit cultivation and trade for their livelihood.
“Protecting the interests of our fruit growers is not just an economic issue — it is about securing the backbone of Kashmir’s rural economy,” he added.
The Congress leader’s appeal comes amid repeated disruptions on NH-44, often caused by landslides, weather conditions, or maintenance issues — all of which compound the logistical challenges faced by the Valley’s vital horticulture sector.
