Baramulla, Jan 3: The government is set to prioritise the expansion of Sopore fruit mandi and upgrade urban infrastructure to boost commercial activity in north Kashmir, while also exploring an alternative route to the landslide-prone Baramulla–Uri Highway to ensure uninterrupted trade flow.
Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Cooperatives, Javid Ahmad Dar, on Saturday said the government will review a proposal to make the Jhelum Valley Road an alternative to the Baramulla–Uri Highway in view of frequent landslides near Eco Park, Baramulla, which have disrupted transportation and commerce.
“The Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, is closely monitoring the Baramulla–Uri road expansion. During the expansion process, incidents of landslides have occurred. If there is feasibility to operate an alternative route through the Old Town, the option can be considered,” he said while replying to media queries on the sidelines of a high-level meeting held at Dak Bungalow, Baramulla.
The minister said the meeting was convened to assess the progress of developmental works that were discussed during a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah two months ago.
During the meeting, crucial issues related to urban infrastructure, Sopore fruit mandi expansion, decongestion of Sopore—a major commercial hub—multi-level car parking, and installation of street lights in Sopore town were discussed in detail.
MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa, and officers from Housing and Urban Development, Planning, Marketing, Horticulture, and other concerned departments attended the meeting.
Later, while talking to reporters, the minister said all suggestions and deliberations from the meeting would be consolidated into a comprehensive proposal and forwarded to the Chief Minister for approval.
“Once the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla prepares a proposal, it will be sent to the Chief Minister,” he said.
Emphasising the economic significance of the initiatives, the minister said the Sopore fruit mandi expansion, proper utilisation of its land, car parking facilities, and better infrastructure at Sopore would be taken up on priority to facilitate traders and strengthen the region’s horticulture economy.
“The responsibility now is to prepare a proposal regarding the mandi and land, keeping in view future expansion, road infrastructure, and parking facilities. Once sent, we will pursue it with the Chief Minister for implementation,” he added.
The proposed improvements are expected to significantly benefit thousands of fruit traders who operate from Sopore, one of Asia’s largest fruit mandis, particularly during the peak harvest season when adequate infrastructure and smooth transportation become critical for the timely movement of perishable produce.