Umar Raina
Srinagar, July 15: Government has introduced new measures to facilitate the transportation of perishable horticulture and agricultural produce to various destinations across the country in an efficient manner.
New measures will be implemented to address the transportation hiccups due ongoing movement of yatra on national highway.
Use of NH-44, by different classes of users, is largely governed by the advisory issued by Traffic Police, which tries to accommodate every stakeholder.
However, it has been reported that in view of the ongoing SANJY-2024, onset of fresh fruit season, convoy movement and the condition of NH-44, sufficient time slots are not getting allotted to this very important sector.
In order to alleviate the concerns of the fruit growers, the UT administration has decided that the vehicles carrying fruits and vegetables will be given adequate priority.
“Traffic Police should identify a stretch of about 02 Kms on NH- 44, between Levdoora to Navyug Tunnel, which should be dedicated for parking of fruit/vegetable laden vehicles, so that their movement could be facilitated on priority. Other HMVs, waiting to be released for their onward movement towards Jammu, should be allowed to get parked only after Levdoora,” reads the order.
According to the order, Fruit/vegetable growers are requested to load and timely park their vehicles (every morning before 09:00 a.m.) at the designated place, so that traffic police could easily identify the vehicles and release them once SANJY related daily movement is over.
The Department of Agriculture Production has been asked to frame and issue instructions to all the fruit/vegetable growers to prominently display a uniquely identifiable marker (hoarding/banner mentioning the item and the source of origin), so that fruit/vegetable laden vehicles are distinguished and their movement is accordingly facilitated.
Trucks carrying perishable goods will also be facilitated through Jawahar Tunnel or Mughal Road.
