Traffic authorities on Friday issued guidelines calling for avoiding “unnecessary haltage” of trucks carrying perishables on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
The guidelines stating dos and dont’s for the movement of goods transport have been issued after several Kashmir-based fruit, vegetable and mutton traders held a meeting with the Inspector General of Police (traffic) on Thursday. As per the decisions taken in the meeting, traffic authorities have said that vehicles carrying fresh fruits, vegetables and livestock will not be “stopped unnecessarily”, especially between Lakhanpur and Udhampur, where high temperatures at this time of the year damage vegetables and fruits and cause death of livestock.
These guidelines have come after more than 500 Kashmir-bound trucks laden with eatables were left stranded at Udhampur for a week recently, causing shortage of essentials in the Valley and huge losses to traders.
The traffic police in its guidelines has stated that Srinagar-bound trucks will be allowed to halt along the Patnitop-Batote stretch “where the temperature is moderate and chances of damages are minimum”.
The traffic authorities have designated DSP Traffic Ramban to liaise with the departments concerned to facilitate movement of trucks towards the Valley at appropriate times during lean periods of traffic movement.
“No such vehicles will be allowed after evening hours towards Kashmir when the movement of security forces convoy is scheduled for next morning,” say the guidelines.
