The Kashmir-Delhi Apple Express, launched on 11 September to transport apple produce amid the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway, has received an overwhelming response from valley traders. All cargo trains scheduled till 16 September have already been fully booked, reflecting the growers’ eagerness to ensure their harvest reaches markets on time.
The special railway service was introduced after continuous landslides and flash floods forced the closure of the highway, leaving truckloads of apples stranded and farmers anxious as their produce began to rot. The move has come as a major relief for Kashmir’s horticulture sector, which had been facing heavy losses due to the disrupted road connectivity.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said on Saturday that 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 16 September is also fully booked.
The parcel van train on Saturday afternoon successfully departed from Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, to Budgam carrying various types of materials for Budgam, such as textiles, clothing, courier goods, auto parts, decorative items, and other white goods.
The Jammu Division of Northern Railways is continuously operating parcel trains for apples from Kashmir to Delhi, which was started on 11 September with two parcel van coaches. Of these two parcel coaches, one was sent to Jammu and the other to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi. About 23 tonnes of goods were loaded in each parcel coach.
It has been considered a historic achievement, as one parcel van coach reached Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, from Budgam railway station in less than 21 hours, and the second parcel van coach reached Jammu in less than 6 hours. The operation of parcel trains by the railways has been highly appreciated by traders and fruit growers of Kashmir.
Continuing and moving forward in this success, an apple goods train with 10 wagons was operated from Anantnag Railway Station in the valley to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, on Saturday. Three wagons will go only till Bari Brahmana (Jammu), and 7 wagons will go to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi.
Emphasising the achievement, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager said, “This is a unique initiative by the Railways for the traders and fruit growers. Due to this initiative, the economy of Jammu and Kashmir will get a boost, and all the small, medium, and large fruit-producing traders in the valley will get equal opportunities.”