Srinagar, Sept. 10 -- Amid extended closure of Jammu-Srinagar national highway during the current peak fruit season, chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday assured a delegation of fruit dealers that the introduction of railway cargo service for fruit produce of Kashmir has already been raised with the Union ministry of railways. Omar met a delegation of Jammu and Kashmir Fruits & Vegetable Processing & Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) at his Raabita Public Outreach office here. The delegation raised the issue of closure of NH in view of the peak fruit season in the valley. The NH has been closed for the past two weeks mostly owing to damage by rains. The delegation, while interacting with the CM, sought immediate intervention of the government to ensure uninterrupted movement of fruit and vegetable laden trucks from Kashmir to outside mandis. A government spokesperson said that they also sought streamlined passage of fruit and vegetable laden trucks, no arbitrary halts, alternate routes, dedicated transport corridor, priority movement status for fruit laden trucks as well as immediate start of railway cargo service to ensure faster and direct transportation of the valley's fruit produce to national markets. While interacting with the delegation, the CM Omar Abdullah assured the association members that the government is fully aware of the gravity of the situation and NH-44 restoration is being monitored on hourly basis. "He emphasised that all possible measures are being explored to restore highway connectivity at the earliest, while long-term solutions are also being explored to prevent such issues in future peak seasons," the spokesperson said. "The CM further assured the delegation that the introduction of railway cargo service for fruit produce of Kashmir has already been raised with the Union ministry of railways and additional rakes have been requested from them for smooth transportation of fruit produce," the official said....