In a welcome piece of news which brings hope and relief to everyone in the region, heavy vehicles have been allowed to once again use the strategically important Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which had been closed for heavy vehicles for nearly three weeks.
This is more than just the reopening of a road; it is the removal of a substantial economic blockage; it is human resolve showing that life – and livelihoods – will always find a way forward.
The closure due to poor and adverse weather, along with the necessary temporary maintenance of the road, had been increasingly concerning over the past few weeks, particularly for the very heart of the Kashmiri economic sector – its orchard farmers.
Every day they delayed was threatening loss – both of fresh produce and of all the economic viability, security, and stability of the sectors connected to this region’s production of food.
The advancement and possibility of reopening the highway to travel is a satisfactory and delimited commitment to loss mitigation.
Shortly consumers from vibrant Mandis across the country will have access to fresh products exported from Kashmir. This integrated efficient supply chain is core to inter-regional trade and the economic inter-dependency and mutual benefit it brings.
In spite of the upside of economic, the reopening is also a strong reminder of the strength of our country in our unity and free trade of our goods and produce.
With that being said, in addition to the immediate economic drivers of reopening, it is a symbol of logistics and committed resilience. My congratulations to the teams to ensure safe travel and contribute to stabilize steep difficult road-ways and to work to cleaning land slides in the commitment.
This will in turn safety lead to material supply and transportation logistics and connecting a tourism, health care and traveller mobility for the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
Lastly, this experience is a reminder of resilience when we participation in support infrastructure to work within our climatic realities to keep a vital corridor open more safely.
