* Local trucks stopped at Lakhanpur, Raya Morh
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 20: Expressing serious concern over the heavy traffic jam of trucks all along the route from Lakhanpur to Jammu for the last 15 days, Deepak Gupta, president of the biggest wholesale grain market of Jammu and Kashmir, has said that traffic is disturbed on the National Highway from Jammu to Srinagar but it is not understood why trucks coming to Jammu are being stopped at Lakhanpur. Click here to watch video
Federation president said that trucks coming to Jammu are first stopped at Lakhanpur, then at Raya Morh and then at Bari Brahmana (Ring Road), due to which it is taking four to six days for the trucks to reach Jammu from Lakhanpur. Deepak Gupta said that due to this the essential supply in Jammu is being badly affected and all this is happening due to chaos and mismanagement created by the Traffic Police department. Gupta said that the Srinagar highway is closed, but trucks traveling from Jammu to Udhampur are also being stopped by the Traffic Police. For the past 15 days, supplies from Jammu to Udhampur, Rajouri-Poonch, Doda-Kishtwar, and Bhaderwah have also been severely affected.
While addressing a press conference, Gupta expressed serious concern over the severe economic hardships and disruptions faced by the business community in Jammu. He said, our region has been severely impacted by a dual crisis, the tragic terror attack on April 22, 2025 and the subsequent war-like situation due to which the tourist inflow has drastically declined, resulting in immense losses to local businesses. This has been compounded by a series of devastating natural calamities, including heavy rains, landslides, cloud bursts and flash floods across many parts of Jammu Division.
The situation on the ground became dire, because of a cloudburst at Chashoti in Paddar. The track of Mata Vaishno Devi was also severely damaged. Heavy rainfall and flash floods have caused several bridges collapsed and the rising water level of the Tawi River has submerged vast areas. These events have left a majority of business activities non-functional. After all this, the traders were hopeful that the situation would gradually become normal but due to traffic mismanagement, everything is getting worse.
Gupta said that the Jammu trade is facing massive losses as trucks remain stranded for days, while perishable supplies such as vegetables, dairy products, poultry, and livestock have been severely affected. Shortages of groceries, household goods and other commodities are putting additional strain on consumers, traders and transporters alike. He appealed to IGP Traffic and DGP to personally intervene in this matter and ensure smooth movement of trucks from Lakhanpur to Jammu and onwards.
Federation chief also appealed to the Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to wave off the toll tax from Lakhanpur to Srinagar till the highway is properly restored. He also raised the issue of massive power cuts in the Ware House -Nehru Market area and asked the concerned Chief Engineer/ MD JPDCL to improve the service, otherwise they do not have the right to claim bills.
Federation office bearers Sham Lal Gupta, Rajesh Bhagotra, Dheeraj Mahajan, Vishal Gupta, Abhimanyu Gupta, Rahul and Nitish were also present.
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