The PDP leader Iltija Mufti called on the government to provide immediate relief to apple growers who are suffering from the closure and disruption on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and said that the transportation delays are causing a lot of harm to Kashmir's horticulture industry.
Mufti said she was worried about fruit-laden trucks stranded because of the highway disruption. “The apples have been “rotting since the past two days,” she said, due to growers and transporters not being able to move their products out of the Valley.
The timing of road maintenance work, Mufti asked why this was done during the peak apple transportation season, she said, so well.
She said the harvesting season is one of the most important seasons of the fruit business of Kashmir and if road connections are disrupted, it will affect millions of farmers, traders and transporters who depend on timely deliveries.
The PDP leader also claimed there could be a conspiracy against Kashmiri apple growers by private players. She also blamed Adani Group although she didn't provide any proof of the claims. The claims have not been independently verified, and there has been no official response from the company regarding her comments.
Mufti warned that long-term transportation delays can have devastating effects on Kashmir’s economy. The Union Territory’s horticulture industry is an important source of employment and income and apples are a significant component of agricultural production.
PDP's Iltija Mufti seeks relief for apple growers hit by Srinagar-Jammu NH closure, blames Adani.
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) August 1, 2026
“Apples are rotting since past 2 days.
Why road maintenance starts only when they are suppose to send their produce?
There might a conspiracy against Kashmiri apple growers by… pic.twitter.com/7iM7sO6NNv
Because apples are very perishable, long-term delays in transportation result in poorer quality foods and lower market prices for growers.
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is the main road connecting Kashmir to all of the country. Every year, thousands of trucks with apples and other fresh produce travel through the highway to wholesale markets in India during harvest time.
Any disruption to traffic could adversely impact the supply chain, and the lives of horticulture workers.
Apple growers and traders have repeatedly stressed the need for uninterrupted road connectivity during the harvesting season. Better traffic management, faster completion of maintenance work and priority movement for trucks carrying perishable goods to minimize losses have been among the reasons many have suggested.
Some of these officials have not yet issued a response on Mufti's allegations as to what has happened. But there has always been a view that road maintenance and traffic management measures are made in such a way that highways are maintained and the traffic is managed and smooth in order to make travel a lot easier and quicker.
The situation has once again highlighted the necessity of transport infrastructure in Kashmir’s horticulture industry. And with the apple harvest in full swing, growers are hoping to be able to move fruit-laden trucks faster and prevent more economic loss.
