The ongoing closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) has thrown Kashmir’s horticulture sector into an unprecedented crisis. With continuous rains wreaking havoc across mountainous stretches and plains of Jammu and Kashmir, the lifeline of the Valley has been severed for days, leaving hundreds of fruit-laden trucks stranded and growers staring at mounting losses. The situation is fast deteriorating, and if urgent remedial measures are not taken, the economic repercussions will be staggering.
Kashmir’s horticulture sector is not merely an agricultural activity but the backbone of the region’s economy, employing lakhs of families and contributing significantly to the state’s GDP. The current period marks the peak harvest season for early apple varieties-produce that is highly perishable and demands swift transportation to markets across India. Every passing day of delay translates into diminishing quality, slashed prices, and in some cases, total wastage. Fruit growers in Sopore, Shopian, and other major mandis report that hundreds of trucks are idling, loaded with consignments that should have reached distant mandis by now. The financial losses are already spiralling, and unless connectivity is restored on a war footing, the impact will be irreparable.
The gravity of the crisis lies in the fact that practically nothing seems to be working for the growers at this juncture. NH-44, touted as an all-weather four-lane highway, is virtually non-functional due to multiple landslides and sinking stretches, with restoration attempts failing under relentless rain. Even the much-hyped tunnels have not mitigated the challenge, as landslides continue to choke their approach roads. Alternative connectivity via the Mughal Road remains a distant hope for large carriers, as only six-tyre trucks are allowed. These smaller vehicles are not economically viable for bulk transport of apples and other produce, besides being in acute shortage because many are already stuck on the highway.
Hopes pinned on railway connectivity have also been dashed, as train services are disrupted due to track damage caused by heavy rainfall. Likewise, the Jammu-Lakhanpur highway faces closures, forcing vehicles to take longer detours, which will not only delay consignments further but also inflate transportation costs significantly. Higher freight charges mean costlier horticulture produce in the market, eroding profit margins and pushing many growers into financial distress. This scenario, if prolonged, could undermine confidence in the horticulture trade and affect Kashmir’s long-term reputation as a reliable supplier of premium apples and other fruits.
Stakeholders have demanded that the Government engage the army for immediate restoration, citing the recent example of a Bailey bridge constructed within hours in Jammu. While this demonstrates the Army’s efficiency in emergencies, such expectations are unrealistic under the current circumstances. The problem is not a broken bridge but recurring landslides, sinking zones, and fragile terrain that remains untamable in continuous rain. The crisis unfolding on NH-44 is not new; it is a recurring nightmare that has been inadequately addressed for years. Despite ambitious claims of building an “all-weather” highway, the harsh reality is prolonged closures whenever heavy rainfall lashes the region.
This chronic vulnerability calls for a paradigm shift in infrastructure planning. Mere patchwork repairs and reactive responses will not suffice. Authorities must explore permanent alternatives, including realigning sections of the highway to bypass geologically unstable zones. Long-term solutions like protective galleries, avalanche shelters, and cutting-edge slope stabilisation technologies must be deployed on a priority basis. It is ironic that a region aspiring for economic revival through connectivity projects remains hostage to nature due to poor foresight and execution lapses.
In the immediate term, the Government must adopt extraordinary measures to salvage the situation. Two steps are critical: first, facilitate the movement of large trucks via Mughal Road, even if it requires controlled, limited convoys; second, mobilise a fleet of six-tyre trucks and subsidise their cost for growers to minimise financial losses. Simultaneously, airlifting limited quantities of premium-grade fruit to major mandis could be considered to prevent complete spoilage of early varieties. Delays are no longer an option; every hour lost deepens the crisis for thousands of families who are dependent on this trade.
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