Jammu, Apr 9 (KNN) The two-day per week ban on movement of civilian vehicles on Jammu-Srinagar-Baramulla national highway for facilitating safe passage of security convoys would affect the business environment of the region badly, said Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation.

While condemning the move, Acting President of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, Bashir Ahmed told KNN India that restrictions on traffic movement will disturb the movement of traffic as lakhs of transporters use this highway for movement of goods.

Such a ban would adversely affect the Kashmir traders as it was the only way for the movement of traffic for transporting goods, he added.

He urged the government to come up with some alternative as the decision to ban the highway would only complicate the situation and affect Kashmir's economy.

Ahmed said that this is not the first time elections are happening in Kashmir and banning the movement is not the solution to deal with the problem.

Addressing a joint press conference on Sunday, Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of Kashmir traders and transporters (JCC) chairman Abrar Khan said “Every day, a business of minimum Rs 150 crore is recorded in Kashmir. Therefore, such a ban will mean Kashmir traders will suffer massive losses.

In addition, he pointed that more than one lakh people associated with the transport sector will lose two working days, which means a loss of 30 percent in their earnings.

Similarly, our horticulture export and import of perishable goods are being halted,” he said, urging the world community to take note of problems being faced by the people of Kashmir.

Amidst the ban, retailers and shopkeepers from various areas of Srinagar staged a protest against the highway traffic ban and blamed government for creating slump in the market.

The state government had announced the ban on April 4 to facilitate the movement of security personnel during the Lok Sabha elections. The ban on civilian traffic on Sundays and Wednesdays will be in force till May 31. (KNN/YV)