All stranded Jmu bound trucks to be cleared by tonight: Div Com Pole

Srinagar, Sept 26: The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole on Monday assured that all the stranded Jammu bound trucks would be cleared by tonight, adding so far “46000 trucks and trailers been moved from Qazigund towards Jammu in which 29000 are Apple trucks in alternate day convoys from Sep 01 to Sep 25.
He added that 3995 Apple trucks were moved towards Jammu yesterday.
The Div Com asserted that normally apple production in Kashmir is 17 metric tons, but due to abundant rainfall, there has been a bumper crop and it will cross 21 metric ton this time.
Pole said that the claim made by certain Fruit growers association on the halting of fruit trucks is half truth and added that natural reasons are hindering traffic.
“We have difficulties in the movement of traffic on the highway due to rains and resultant shooting stones but it is beyond human control,” the Div Com added.
He appealed to them to use alternate Mughal road to lessen the burden on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
It was informed that almost 1500 trucks got stuck in between Ramban and Ramsoo as traffic could not move ahead of Ramban with flow because of intermittent shooting stones at Mehar causing regular stoppages.
Moreover, Div Com informed that today at 12 noon Chief Secretary had taken a review meeting which was attended by DGP and all officers of traffic departments.
He informed that administration is making all efforts while he also appeals to use Mughal road, at least for empty vehicles
At present around 4000 trucks loaded with fresh, perishable, Petroleum products and other requirements of the valley are stranded in the Jammu region, he stated.
Reacting to the development, the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union (KVFGCDU) ended their two-day strike across all fruit Mandis of the valley.
Chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union Bashir Ahmad Basheer told Rising Kashmir that they have ended their strike after the stranded fruit-laden trucks were allowed to move towards Jammu.
“We are thankful to the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole, Inspector General Traffic (IGP) traffic Jammu and Kashmir, and Principal Secretary Transport for their timely action on clearing the stranded fruit laden vehicles on Srinagar Jammu National Highway,”he said.
Basheer said that yesterday and today authorities allowed the traffic movement of stranded fruit-laden vehicles and by today evening they are expecting the mobilization of around 8000 vehicles.
“Since yesterday there is down traffic movement on Srinagar Jammu National Highway and to our assessment by today evening we are expecting around 8000 vehicles to move towards Jammu including the stranded fruit laden trucks,” he added.
It is further informed that the trucks are being cleared now and passenger vehicles could only be released from Jammu and Srinagar. The congestion due to halted trucks has been cleared at the earliest.
It is pertinent to mention that the capacity of NH for one way HMV movement is just about 3000 to 3500 if there is no disruption in traffic due to landslides, shooting stones and breakdown of loaded trucks. Anything above the capacity disturbs the whole cycle of up and down release of traffic and this may result in piling up of traffic on NH.
Meanwhile, it was also informed that that production of fresh fruit during 2022-23 is estimated to be 2123047 MTs as compared to 1981610 MTs in 2021-22 while the production of dry fruit during 2022-23 is estimated at 206118 MTs as compared to 192497 MTs last year.