The Railway Board has approved a joint parcel product rapid cargo train service between Budgam and Adarsh Nagar (Delhi), aimed at supporting Kashmir's fruit growers and traders by providing faster market access. Operated by the Jammu Division of Northern Railways, the daily train will run with eight parcel vans and a seating-cum-luggage rake. Loading and unloading will be available at the Bari Brahmana station. The journey to Delhi will take around 23 hours, shorter than road transport.
Senior Commerce Divisional Manager Uchit Singhal said the goal is "to benefit the traders of Kashmir and to deliver the goods from there to every corner of the country," with apples, saffron, and walnuts among the main products. The service will initially operate on a pilot basis with state police providing security. Jammu Divisional Railway Manager Vivek Kumar said the initiative will promote freight transport by rail through a virtual aggregation platform, with reduced booking fees to encourage participation.
The train is expected to improve delivery efficiency for Kashmir's fruit producers while offering an alternative to road transport.
Source: The Statesman