Srinagar, September 19, 2025 – Amid the picturesque apple orchards of south Kashmir, where vibrant reds hang heavy on branches, a resilient spirit shines through recurring challenges. While recent rains and landslides have disrupted the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for over 20 days, turning parts of the harvest into roadside casualties, the Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) administration has stepped up decisively with innovative transport solutions. Thousands of fruit-laden trucks now roll forward, bolstered by efficient rail services, offering a lifeline to growers and restoring hope to the Valley’s vital ₹12,000 crore apple industry.This economic powerhouse, supporting nearly 3.5 million people directly and indirectly, thrives on over 1.45 lakh hectares (28.66 lakh kanals) of orchards – a testament to decades of dedication transforming vast lands into bountiful groves.
Apples, celebrated for their improving quality and yields, continue to deliver respectable incomes, fueling Kashmir’s prosperity as the nation’s top supplier of over 70% of its apples.The crisis, sparked by late August downpours, has indeed forced some heartbreaking decisions in districts like Shopian and Pulwama, where farmers discarded spoiled crates amid the highway’s partial closures. Losses, estimated at ₹1,500 crore including perishable pears, underscore the fragility of the 250-km Srinagar-Jammu NH-44 through rugged terrain. Alternate routes like Mughal Road have provided limited support, prompting temporary shutdowns of key mandis, including Sopore’s massive fruit market, in calls for faster resolutions.Yet, the LG Government’s proactive interventions have turned the tide.
On September 15, LG Manoj Sinha personally flagged off a dedicated daily cargo parcel train from Budgam to Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar – a game-changer hauling 24 tonnes of apples and walnuts (valued at ₹2.5 crore) in just 24 hours, slashing transit times dramatically. To date, an impressive 1.25 lakh boxes have been dispatched via rail, with Anantnag contributing 87,137 and Budgam 38,239, ensuring fresh produce reaches markets nationwide without undue delay. “This rail initiative is a boon for our growers,” said Fayaz Ahmed Malik, President of Sopore Fruit Mandi, highlighting how it mitigates losses and stabilizes prices.Complementing this, coordinated one-way convoys on the highway have cleared backlogs efficiently. By September 18, after three weeks of intensive repairs by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the road fully reopened for heavy vehicles, prioritizing perishable loads. Minister for Horticulture Javid Ahmad Dar’s on-ground visits on September 15, alongside LG Sinha’s directives to traffic officials, have streamlined truck movements, with hundreds of vehicles now en route to Jammu and beyond.
These efforts build on ₹16,000 crore invested over five years in four-laning the Jammu-Srinagar-Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal corridor, proving the infrastructure’s growing resilience despite nature’s tests. Protests in Sopore, Handwara, and Anantnag have eased as normalcy returns, with the Kashmir Fruit Growers and Dealers Association praising the government’s focus on compensation packages and expanded rail-air cargo options. Even as Omar Abdullah reflected on the rains as a call for reflection, the collective mood shifts toward optimism, crediting administrative agility for averting deeper woes.In this season of trials, Kashmir’s apple growers – guardians of a legacy crop – are emerging stronger, thanks to the LG team’s truck and train rescues. With harvesting urged to pause only briefly, the Valley looks ahead to a harvest not just salvaged, but safeguarded for future abundance.
