Amid highway woes, Railways steps in: Daily parcel train to ferry Kashmir apples to Delhi

Srinagar, Sep 15: In a major boost to Kashmir’s horticulture sector, Indian Railways on Monday launched a high-capacity daily parcel train service from Srinagar to Delhi for transporting apples and other fruits.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Divisional Railway Manager Vivek Kumar described the initiative as a ‘golden moment’ for the region.

“This is a daily parcel train carrying apples and a limited quantity of walnuts, with the potential to transport many other products,” he said.

He added that the train consists of eight parcel vans—one with a capacity of 23 tons and the others ranging between 160 to 170 tons.

He said the train will depart daily at 6:00 AM from Srinagar.

“It will halt at Bari Brahmana, Jammu and reach Adarsh Nagar in Delhi. The biggest advantage is its fixed timetable, which allows businesses to plan logistics efficiently,” Kumar said.

Highlighting the broader impact, he said the initiative will significantly boost the horticulture industry.

Dr. Manoj Singh, a member of the Railway Board, said that the train carried apples worth Rs 2.5 crore and will reach Delhi in just 24 hours.

“With road transport currently disrupted, this marks a landmark joint effort by the Railways,” he said—(KNO)