SAHIL BHAT
SEPT 2: Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday urged Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav introduce a dedicated Cargo train service for Kashmiri apples.
Addressing the media, Mehbooba Mufti said it is quite unfortunate that fruit growers are subject to financial losses every year due to closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44).
Mehbooba Mufti said that unfortunately in the current year the road has again shut leaving hundreds of fruit-laden vehicles stranded resulting in heavy losses to business.
PDP stalwart made a strong pitch for the introduction of a train service between the Kashmir valley and Delhi, which will curb the challenges encountered by the fruit growers.
She added, such a measure would bring important respite to all the traders as, post the Pahalgam bloodshed, fruit industry has kept the hope of business in Kashmir valley.
Mehbooba posted on X, “Fruit growers have been facing severe financial losses every year due to the closure of NH 44. Unfortunately this year the road has once again been closed leaving hundreds of fruit laden vehicles stranded resulting in inevitable losses. I appeal to the Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav to introduce a dedicated train service between the valley and Delhi to mitigate the challenges faced by the growers. Such a measure would bring much needed relief to everyone involved in the trade.”
Amid the torrential rains especially in the Monsoon season, the landslides are triggered resulting in cloisure of National Highway (NHW). This affects the business of hundreds of fruit growers.
