Srinagar: Traffic Police have said since September 01, some 45,923 trucks, including 17,631 apple trucks, have moved from Srinagar to Jammu via tunnel as per the details provided by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
On Monday, trucks were again released from Srinagar to Jammu, even as there was a backlog of approximately 2,500 trucks at Qazigund. However, due to shooting stones at Cafeteria Morh, Ramban, traffic was stopped on Tuesday morning and movement was possible only in the late afternoon after the road was cleared.
The police said apple trucks are given priority for release at traffic at Qazigund and hence in no case, any apple truck can remain stranded there for more than two days “contrary to the false claims and propaganda that is being spread by vested interests”.
Traffic Police will initiate strict action against individuals who are spreading false and unverified information regarding the movement of apple trucks, they said.
It said it has taken several additional steps to increase the flow of apple trucks including giving extra time to down convoy to ensure their smooth clearance.
“In case of blockage of NH 44 due to shooting stones, down HMVS (heavy motor vehicles) were released on consecutive days to ensure speedy clearance of apple trucks and extra traffic personnel were deputed to Quazigund and Banihal-Ramban stretches to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic,” it said.
The Traffic Police said Ramban market has been notified as a “No Parking Zone” and the Department of Horticulture was asked to paste stickers on the windscreen of each fruit-laden truck mentioning apple or fresh produce as appropriate with an accompanying picture for ease of identification.
“One Whatsapp group was created at Traffic Hqrs level in which all stakeholders were added for timely redressal of grievances of fruit growers. The Traffic department also undertook a number of steps to facilitate the flow of traffic through the Mughal Road to ease the pressure on the NH 44,” the police added.
