Traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar highway are usually more about supply of essentials to Kashmir and less about business and trade in valley but during the last fortnight the public outrage against the stranding of apple trucks has triggered a huge row that does not head to any dead end despite assurances by the J&K Government and displacement of SSP Traffic Police Jammu-Srinagar highway. Though Jammu & Kashmir Government has come out with some explanations over the recent traffic blockade on Jammu-Srinagar highway that led to the stranding of apple trucks on the highway but the explanations offered so for by the J&K Government are not satisfying the angry apple growers and the reasons are obviously very clear. The huge traffic blockades having hit only the transportation of apple so for if occurs and re-occurs again and again in coming weeks could hit even the supply of essentials to Kashmir and Ladhak as well. Never forget that the supply of essentials to Kashmir and Ladhak starts annually before September and if it is hit by the continuing traffic blockades in coming weeks it would ultimately lead to insufficient stocking of essentials for peak winter months in both Kashmir valley and as well as Ladhak region. So the continuing traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar highway won’t only hit apple trade but it would also lead to shortage of essentials in peak winter months both in Kashmir Valley and as well as Ladhak region now controlled by an independent administration after the bifurcation of erstwhile J&K state into two union territories.
The restoration of hassle free traffic movement on Jammu-Srinagar Highway by all standards of understandabilities is not possible without close coordination between the construction companies undertaking the incomplete works of Ramban-Banihal track of Jammu Srinagar highway which obviously is not possible without the intervention of National Highway Authority of India. Ultimately the restoration of hassle free traffic movement on Jammu-Srinagar highway can’t be facilitated by the J&K Government itself without immediate forceful intervention of the top brass of the Central Government’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The restoration of hassle free traffic on Jammu-Srinagar highway as such is as crucial for stock and supplies in Kashmir and Ladhak region as it is for the survival of apple industry in Kashmir valley. The issue is not that whether the onus lies on the construction companies presently engaged in completion of the incomplete Ramban-Banihal track of Jammu-Srinagar highway or the authorities of traffic police department regulating traffic on Jammu-Srinagar highway but the issue is the restoration of hassle free traffic movement on Jammu-Srinagar highway. The restoration of hassle free traffic movement on Jammu-Srinagar Highway by all standards of understandabilities is not possible without close coordination between the construction companies undertaking the incomplete works of Ramban-Banihal track of Jammu Srinagar highway which obviously is not possible without the intervention of National Highway Authority of India. Ultimately the restoration of hassle free traffic movement on Jammu-Srinagar highway can’t be facilitated by the J&K Government itself without immediate forceful intervention of the top brass of the Central Government’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
