Srinagar, Sept 15 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over the continued halting of apple trucks on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, demanding that the road be handed over to the J&K government if New Delhi cannot ensure its maintenance.
“The highway falls under the jurisdiction of the Government of India. If they cannot maintain it, they should hand it over to us. I will deploy a team of engineers who are currently available here,” Omar told reporters.
Expressing frustration over repeated assurances, the Chief Minister said, “Enough is enough. We have been patient because they kept assuring us daily that restoration work would be done, but it didn’t happen.”
Omar Abdullah further said he would personally take up the matter with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, to press for urgent restoration of the arterial route for truck movement.
He also sought enhancement of railway services for fruit transportation, arguing that a single parcel train was insufficient. “We are thankful for starting the train service, but one train is not enough. It should be operated on a regular basis so that fruit growers have the option to transport apples either by train or by road,” he said.
The Srinagar–Jammu highway remains the sole all-weather surface link connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, and frequent disruptions have left fruit growers facing heavy losses during the peak apple harvest season.
