Srinagar, Sept. 14 -- As the frequent disruption of Jammu-Srinagar National highway-44 has caused tremendous losses to fruit industry this year, the growers on Saturday held protests at different mandies asking the government to streamline the transportation of fruit on the highway.

Growers claim that they lost more than Rs.500 crore due to frequent disruption of the highway, though they welcomed the start of parcel train cargo for apples. However, they said that the train should be extended to Sopore where there is Asia's second largest fruit mandi.

The growers held protests at Sopore, Kupwara in north Kashmir and Kulgam in South Kashmir and stressed on the government to get the fruit transportation streamlined.

"Some fruit-laden truc...