South Kashmir orchardists demand local parcel train stations to transport apples directly to Delhi

Shopian, Sep 11: As Northern Railway rolls out a daily parcel train from Budgam to Delhi for ferrying freshly harvested apples, orchardists in south Kashmir have urged the Railway Ministry to extend the facility closer to the Valley’s main fruit-producing districts.

Farmers from Pulwama, Shopian, and Anantnag said setting up loading facilities at Kakapora, Awantipora, or Panzgam in Pulwama, and at Sangam or Awnoora in Anantnag, would save them time, cut transportation costs, and reduce losses during the peak harvest season.

“We request the Railway Minister to establish loading points at multiple stations across south Kashmir. The bulk of apple production comes from this region, and having parcel facilities here would be a huge support for us,” said Mitha Gathoo, a social activist and fruit grower. “There should be stations to load fruit at Awantipora, Kakapora, Awnoora, and other points in south Kashmir,” he added.

On Thursday, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Budgam–Delhi parcel service would start from September 13, 2025, calling it a major relief for the Valley’s apple industry.

But growers in Shopian and Pulwama — which together contribute a large share of Kashmir’s annual apple output — said the Budgam station, nearly 40 kilometres away, was not easily accessible. Farmers argue that transporting truckloads of apples to Budgam adds both cost and risk, especially given the frequent traffic jams and highway closures on the Srinagar–Jammu road.

“Having a station in Pulwama would save time, reduce wastage, and allow us to compete better in the national markets,” said Waseem Ahmad, a grower from Pulwama.

The south Kashmir belt is regarded as the heart of the Valley’s horticulture sector, with more than 80 percent of the local population directly or indirectly dependent on the apple trade. It also houses the largest Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage facility at SIDCO Lassipora, which farmers believe could be directly linked to the railway network for smoother supply chains to Delhi and beyond.

Growers said that while the Budgam–Delhi train was a welcome step, extending the facility to south Kashmir would ensure the Valley’s core fruit-producing regions are directly connected to national markets.