Budgam, Sep 11,: Railways on Thursday started operating two parcel vans to transport fruits from Kashmir to Jammu and Delhi, bringing much-needed relief to the horticulture sector which has been reeling under losses due to the prolonged closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway caused by torrential rains and floods.
Railway officials said two dedicated parcel vans departed from Budgam station, one bound for Delhi and the other for Jammu, both carrying the season’s finest Kashmiri apples.
They described the initiative as a transformative step in Kashmir’s logistics, ensuring a faster and more reliable route for the Valley’s celebrated horticultural produce to reach national markets.
“By reducing dependence on vulnerable road routes, these direct rail services mark a bold new chapter for commerce in the region. It will invigorate the horticulture sector and provide fresh impetus to the economy of Kashmir as a whole,” officials said.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a social media post, said that with the Jammu-Srinagar rail line now operational, the Valley enjoys better connectivity. “Railways is introducing a daily time-tabled parcel train from Budgam in Kashmir Valley to Adarsh Nagar station in Delhi starting 13th September 2025. Loading of 2 parcel vans carrying apples from Budgam to Delhi is beginning today,” the Minister stated.
The introduction of rail-based fruit transportation is expected to minimize post-harvest losses, speed up deliveries, and give growers better access to larger markets beyond the Valley. [KNT]
