1.37 lakh MT of fruits dispatched from Kashmir in 10 days

Around 1.37 lakh metric tons (MT) of fruit have been dispatched from the Kashmir Valley over the past 10 days via the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, Mughal Road, and the parcel train service, officials said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg said a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was formulated recently to streamline the evacuation of fresh fruit from the Valley during the ongoing harvest season. “Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 fruit-laden trucks are being dispatched to Jammu daily via the National Highway and Mughal Road on an alternate basis,” he said.

He further noted that restoration work on the National Highway is progressing rapidly. “The speed of vehicular movement has significantly improved. While earlier only 1,500 to 2,000 trucks were able to move daily on the highway, 3,500 to 4,000 trucks moved towards Srinagar last night alone,” he said, adding that all fruit trucks are expected to reach Jammu by evening.

Speaking about the Mughal Road, the Divisional Commissioner said that 1,800 to 1,900 trucks were dispatched via this route just yesterday, with fresh fruit evacuation given top priority.

Regarding the parcel train service from Kashmir to Delhi, Garg said that around 800 to 1,000 metric tons of fruit are being transported daily by rail.

“Our fruit growers had requested that in addition to Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla should also be used for fruit loading. That process has now begun,” he said, explaining that farmers in North Kashmir can now dispatch fruit from Baramulla, while those in South Kashmir can use the Anantnag rail station to send their produce to Delhi.