JAMMU — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that fruit-laden trucks from Kashmir and petroleum tankers from Jammu were being given priority on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and timely transportation of horticultural produce during the ongoing Amarnath yatra.
He reviewed the traffic situation on the highway following landslides triggered by heavy rains last week in Udhampur-Ramban stretch.
Speaking to reporters at Peera in Ramban district during his journey from Jammu to Srinagar, Abdullah said that the government was mindful of the ongoing fruit season and the need to ensure that growers’ produce reached markets without delay.
“I am aware that this is the fruit season. People want their produce to reach the markets before it perishes. At the same time, the Amarnath Yatra is also underway, which has resulted in certain restrictions on the highway. Nevertheless, fruit-laden trucks are being given priority. Petroleum tankers coming from Jammu are also being accorded priority to ensure that there is no shortage of essential supplies,” he said.
The chief minister said there was no alternative to the Jammu-Srinagar highway and appealed to commuters to remain patient whenever traffic was temporarily halted because of rain-triggered landslides or road restoration works.
He said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Jammu and Kashmir Police, Traffic Police and the civil administration were making sustained efforts to maintain traffic flow and reopen the road at the earliest whenever disruptions occurred.
Abdullah said he had reviewed the condition of the highway in Udhampur and Ramban districts, held meetings with NHAI officials and visited affected stretches to assess the situation on the ground.
Referring to the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, he said the pilgrimage was progressing smoothly with a large number of devotees having visited the holy cave shrine so far.
“It is encouraging that a large number of pilgrims have visited the holy cave shrine this year and all of them have returned safely so far. We hope that even more pilgrims will come and complete their pilgrimage successfully,” he said.
Earlier, the chief minister made a brief halt at the famous Khajura Dhaba at Peera, where he had a traditional lunch comprising rajma, rice, desi ghee and anardana chutney before resuming his journey to Srinagar.
Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan, Senior Superintendent of Police Arun Gupta and other district officials were present during his halt. — (PTI)