Truckers double freight charges for Valley fruit, post killing of non-locals by militants

81052 trucks ferried 11.46 Lakh MT—60% of total produce

SRINAGAR: With the Kashmir Valley observing a self-imposed shutdown for last 102 days, coupled with increased terror attacks on non-local truckers and labourers since August 5, the fare prices of trucks carrying the fruits from various parts of Valley to outside Jammu and Kashmir have increased manifold compared to earlier years.
Even as the uncertainty continues to prevail in the region ever since the abrogation of Article 370 of Constitution, 11.46 Lakh Metric Ton of fresh fruits—around 60% of Valley’s total produce-- have been transported via over 81 thousand truck which visited Jammu and Kashmir this year.
The increase in prices for ferrying fruit boxes from the valley to other parts of the country comes after non-local truck drivers and labourers were killed by militants across different parts of the valley in past three months.


Route Rate per
box in 2018 Rate per box in 2019
Kashmir-New Delhi Rs 65-70 Rs 140-150
Kashmir-Jaipur Rs 45-50 Rs 90-100
Kashmir-West Bengal Rs 150-155 Rs 250-260


“The situation this year has been very difficult; first these continuous shutdown and then a sudden increase in fare by the truck drivers. We are helpless as we have to sell our fruits as it is our only source of income,” said Firdous Khan, a fruit grower in Shopian.
“Last year, the truck drivers used to charge between rupees 65 to 70 per fruit box from Kashmir to Delhi. Now, this year the rate is doubled and has been increased to rupees 140 to 150 per box,” he informs.
The prices for ferrying fruits to other states of the country have also increased manifold, leaving the fruit growers with no option than to go with the increased fares.
“For Jaipur, the fare per fruit box was between rupees 45 to 50 rupees last year which has increased to rupees 90 to 100 rupees this year,” Mehraj-u-din, member of South Kashmir Truck association told this scribe.
The prices have seen an increase of Rs 100 for West Bengal. Two weeks ago, five labourers from West Bengal were brutally killed by militants.
“This year, the price per fruit box has gone up to rupees 250 to 260 for West Bengal. This time around last year, the fare ranged from rupees 150 to 155. The rates have gone up after the series of killing of non-local labours and truck drivers,” Mehraj-u-din added.
Besides these five labourers, two more non-local labourers have been killed, along with four truck drivers even as a number of truck which were here to ferry fruit have been burnt down by militants.
“We have already suffered a huge loss due to uncertainty that has been prevailing in the valley from last more than three months. And, looking at the things that have been going on here, I have no other option but to pay as much as truck drivers want,” said Shafi Shah, another fruit grower.
Adding, he alleged that administration has been found sleeping as there is no accountability and no checking is going on.
As much as 11.46 Lakh Metric Ton of fresh fruits—around 60% of Valley’s total produce-- have been transported via over 81 thousand truck which visited Jammu and Kashmir this year.
“Every year more than 20 Lakh Metric Ton (MT) of fresh fruit is transported from the valley to different mandis of the country,” informs Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari, Director, Horticulture Marketing and Planning.
He added that till November 13 this year, around 11.46 Lakh Metric Ton of fresh fruits has been transported as compared to last year’s 12.64 Lakh Metric Ton till this date.
On being asked about the number of trucks used, Bukhari said that last year, number of trucks that ferried the fruits outside the state where 95,637.
“While as in this year, the number of trucks till today is 81,052,” he said.
While talking about the number of fruits transported through Centre’s Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), Bukhari said, “So far, 6,870 Metric Ton of fruits have been ferried from the valley to different parts of the state, whereas 372 trucks have carried that material.
“The total worth of the fruit transported through MIS is Rs 32 Crore,” he said.
While on asked about the rates that have been hiked by the truck drivers, Director said, “There is a fixed rate within the Union Territory and when the materials are transferred from the valley to different parts of the county then it is all about market-driven demands.”
“For instance, the rates go higher during the festive seasons and this has been happening every year. It all depends on the market and it will get back to normal,” he said.
Since the Centre's decision on Article 370, terrorists have been targeting truckers and labourers, mainly who have come to the Valley from outside Kashmir.