Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid seeks green corridor for fruit trucks on Srinagar-Jammu highway
Said frequent traffic disruptions between Qazigund, Banihal and Udhampur were causing heavy losses to fruit growers
Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, who has been permitted by a court to attend the ongoing Parliament session, on Friday met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and urged him to establish a dedicated green corridor for fruit-laden trucks on National Highway-44 during the harvesting season.
In a statement, Rashid’s Awami Itihaad Party said the MP raised several key infrastructure and public welfare issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
He said frequent traffic disruptions between Qazigund, Banihal and Udhampur were causing heavy losses to fruit growers by delaying the movement of highly perishable produce.
Rashid told the Minister that the horticulture sector is the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, supporting nearly seven lakh families, and that transportation delays lead to deterioration in fruit quality, lower market prices and higher transport costs.
He urged Gadkari to ensure priority movement of fruit-laden trucks through a dedicated green corridor and establish an effective coordination mechanism involving the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Traffic Police, Civil Administration and the Horticulture Department.
The MP also raised the issue of the proposed alignment of NH-701A (Magam-Beerwah-Arizal-Doodhpathri Highway), urging the Ministry to retain and upgrade the existing BRO-maintained alignment instead of constructing a new bypass.
He said the existing road could be upgraded with minimal widening, reducing land acquisition, displacement and project costs while protecting fertile agricultural land and orchards. According to the statement, the proposal has the support of local residents and would improve connectivity to Beerwah, Doodhpathri and Yousmarg.
Rashid also requested the Minister to expedite the upgradation of the eight-kilometre Paharthan-Kralnewah Crossing road via Chotribaal, describing it as crucial for improving connectivity and addressing the long-pending transport needs of local residents.
The statement said Gadkari gave a patient hearing to the issues raised and assured the MP that the Ministry would examine them sympathetically.
