Srinagar, Sep 13: Just two days after the Railways announced the launch of a daily parcel train service between Kashmir and Delhi to facilitate Valley fruit growers, officials said the initiative has received an “overwhelming response” from traders.
The service, comprising eight parcel van coaches with a carrying capacity of 23 tonnes each, began the operations from today after the first parcel van departed from Delhi to Kashmir.
The first such train from Budgam Railway Station to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, will depart on September 15.
According to officials, the first consignment of the train (September 15) has already been fully booked by fruit growers and traders, while the second consignment scheduled for September 16 has also been booked in advance.
Apart from regular service, the Northern Railway had earlier operated special parcel trains for apples on September 11, using two parcel van coaches — one sent to Jammu and the other to Delhi. Each coach carried about 23 tonnes of goods. Officials termed the achievement “historic,” noting that one coach reached Delhi in less than 21 hours, while the other reached Jammu in under six hours.
The initiative has drawn appreciation from growers, traders, and stakeholders across the Valley.
Regarding Saturday’s parcel train departure from Delhi from Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, to Budgam at 12:10 pm, officials said it departed carrying textiles, clothing, courier consignments, auto parts, decorative items, and white goods for the Valley.
Officials also said under a special service based on the demand, an apple goods train with 10 wagons was also operated on Saturday from Anantnag Railway Station to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi. Of these, three wagons were offloaded at Bari Brahmana (Jammu), while seven continued to Delhi.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Division, Northern Railways, Uchit Singhal, said the initiative would be a game changer for the Valley’s economy.
“This is a unique step by the Railways for traders and fruit producers. It will give a significant boost to the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and ensure equal opportunities for small, medium, and large fruit growers,” he said.
