Kashmir apples on fast track
Jammu, Sep 13: Amid times of distress for horticulture producers of Kashmir, particularly apple growers, some cheery news has come from the Jammu Railway Division.
The parcel van, carrying apples from Budgam in Kashmir, reached Adarsh Nagar in Delhi on Saturday, September 13, 2025, in less than 21 hours.
The development has come as a much sought-after reprieve to the Kashmir fruit growers.
The most heartening aspect was that the development, uplifting spirits of all stakeholders, coincided with another reassuring initiative – the commencement of a new regular Delhi-Budgam-Delhi Joint Parcel Product Rapid Cargo Train (JPP-RCT) service from Adarsh Nagar in Delhi.
As per the announced schedule, the daily service, henceforth, comprising eight Parcel Vans (VPs) and Seating cum Luggage Rake (SLR) commenced from Adarsh Nagar in Delhi on Saturday, September 13.
Maiden JPP-RCS parcel train, carrying textiles, auto parts, and other white goods (large electrical goods) departed from Adarsh Nagar on Saturday afternoon and would reach Budgam on Sunday (September 14, 2025) morning.
“After successful time bound delivery of apples in demand VP for Jammu in less than 6 hours, the parcel van, carrying apples, which departed from Budgam to Adarsh Nagar (Delhi) reached at its intended destination in less than 21 hours,” Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) Jammu Railway Division, Uchit Singhal shared, with a tagline “Transport by rail.”
Reference was to the second dedicated VP, which was operated on demand by the apple growers, vexed over looming prospects of their produce (apples) getting stranded due to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, following recent rain-induced landslides and flash-floods.
Loading of two dedicated parcel vans (VPs), for their maiden run carrying stranded apples, from Budgam had begun on September 11, 2025, thus marking a historic era of transformation.
“Jammu (Railway) Division of Northern Railway is operating parcel trains for apples from Kashmir to Delhi. The initiative was started on September 11, 2025, with two parcel van coaches. Out of these two parcel van coaches, one was sent to Jammu and the other to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi. About 23 tonnes of goods were loaded in each parcel van coach,” said Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector, Jammu Railway Division.
Asserting that it (the initiative) has been considered a historic achievement, Singh said, “One parcel van coach reached Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, from Budgam railway station in less than 21 hours. The second parcel van coach had earlier reached Jammu in less than 6 hours. The operation of parcel trains by the railways has won high appreciation by the people of the country, mainly the traders and fruit growers of Kashmir.”
DAILY JPP-RCS INITIATIVE TOO SETS IN MOTION
He said that alongside this initiative, the regular Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) parcel train service would depart from Budgam Railway Station to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi on September 15, 2025.
“It has 8 parcel van coaches and the weight capacity per coach is 23 tonnes. The first consignment of this train has been fully booked by traders and fruit growers, and the second consignment from Budgam to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, on September 16, 2025, is also fully booked. Today, on September 13, 2025, the JPP-RCS parcel van train successfully departed from Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, to Budgam at 12.10 pm, carrying various types of materials such as textiles, clothing, courier goods, auto parts, decorative items, and other white goods,” Singh said.
JPP-RCS train will originate from Budgam Railway Station (BDGM) at 6:15 am and reach Adarsh Nagar Railway Station (ANDI) at 5 am the next day - a very suitable time for apples to arrive at the Delhi market early in the morning. Railway authorities assert that more wagons will be added if demand increases.
In a related development, Singh said, “Continuing and moving forward in this direction, today on September 13, 2025, an apple goods train with 10 BCN (Bogie Covered Wagons) has been operated from Anantnag Railway Station of the valley to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi. Of them, three wagons will go only till Bari Brahmana (Jammu), and 7 wagons will go till Adarsh Nagar, Delhi.”
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal, while emphasising these achievements, said, “This is a unique initiative by the Railways for the traders and fruit producers. Due to this initiative, the economy of Jammu and Kashmir will get a boost, and all the small, medium, and large fruit-producing traders of the valley will get equal opportunities and a level playing field.”
The dedicated daily JPP-RCS train service has been launched by Indian Railways to ensure efficient, timely, and safe transportation of perishable produce - primarily fruits -to markets across India.
“The new service will operate daily on the Budgam-Adarsh Nagar Delhi-Budgam (BDGM–ANDI–BDGM) route, facilitating improved market access and reducing post-harvest losses. This initiative is expected to significantly benefit both fruit growers and consumers by minimising spoilage and ensuring the produce reaches its destination in fresh condition,” Singhal said.
