The repeated closure of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway has once again plunged Kashmir into a crisis-like situation, underlining the pressing need for urgent government intervention. This vital road link, the only all-weather surface connection between the Valley and the rest of the country, has been blocked for days due to landslides and road damage, leaving fruit-laden trucks stranded on the highway and choking the flow of essential supplies into Kashmir.
The repercussions are visible everywhere. Truckloads of fresh apples and pears—the backbone of Kashmir’s horticulture economy—are stuck en route, exposed to damage and spoilage. For growers and traders, every passing hour translates into financial loss, as delayed consignments lose their freshness and market value. With horticulture being one of the largest employment-generating sectors in the Valley, the blockage is not merely a logistical inconvenience; it is a direct blow to livelihoods.
The crisis has been compounded by acute fuel shortages. Petrol pumps across Srinagar and other districts are running dry, with long queues of desperate motorists waiting for hours, often returning empty-handed. Public transport is gradually disappearing from the roads, adding to the hardships of ordinary people who rely on buses and shared taxis for their daily commute. Emergency services are also under pressure, as ambulances and healthcare vehicles struggle to refuel, and power supply in some areas faces the threat of disruption due to diesel scarcity for backup generators.
In such a situation, it is incumbent upon the Government of India to expedite restoration of the highway on a war footing. The Border Roads Organisation and other concerned agencies must ensure that the clearance of landslides, repair of damaged stretches, and reinforcement of vulnerable spots are done without bureaucratic delay. The strategic and economic importance of this road leaves no scope for prolonged neglect. While weather-related disruptions may be inevitable, timely planning, pre-positioning of machinery, and widening of bottleneck areas could prevent the Valley from being pushed into a crisis each time the highway is blocked.
At the same time, the administration must create alternative arrangements to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities, particularly fuel, to Kashmir during highway disruptions. The prolonged suffering of the common people cannot be brushed aside as routine inconvenience. Contingency measures—such as stocking essential supplies well in advance, using the Mughal Road and airlifting fuel during long closures—must become standard practice rather than last-minute responses.
Kashmir cannot be held hostage to its fragile connectivity. The Valley’s fruit growers, traders, and ordinary citizens deserve a functional, reliable supply chain. The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway is not merely a road—it is a lifeline. The government must recognize this reality and act with urgency and foresight to ensure that such crises do not repeat themselves with punishing regularity.
