WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: The Northern Railway is making efforts to ensure smooth and faster transportation of Kashmir’s apple produce to outside markets, with dedicated cargo services being operated from the Valley, Chief Area Manager Kapil Sharma said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a media briefing at Nowgam Railway Station, Sharma said nearly 22,000 tonnes of apples were transported through railways last year, underlining the importance of rail connectivity for Kashmir’s horticulture sector.
He said the Rail Rapid Cargo service from Budgam to Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar terminal was providing traders with an economical and faster transportation option, with efforts being made to ensure delivery within about 24 hours.
Sharma said the Railways had continued operating parcel special trains from Budgam even when the cargo volume was sometimes low, stressing that the services were being maintained to support fruit growers and traders.
“Rail is economical and fast,” Sharma said, while urging growers and traders to make greater use of the railway cargo facilities to minimise delays and prevent spoilage of fruit.
He said road transportation offered the advantage of taking produce directly from farms to destinations, but its reliability could be affected by weather conditions, landslides and floods.
The railway official said the importance of an alternative transportation network was particularly evident during situations when road connectivity was disrupted, citing the Amarnath Yatra as an example where the Railways played an important role in maintaining transportation.
Sharma said the issue of efficient transportation of Kashmir’s horticulture produce was being closely monitored at higher levels, with the Ministry of Railways and the Prime Minister’s Office taking interest in ensuring that the sector does not face transportation-related difficulties.
He said senior railway officials were also holding meetings with traders and visiting orchards to understand their requirements and address issues on the ground.
Highlighting the performance of the Anantnag Goods Shed, Sharma said the facility had been handling cargo efficiently and helping reduce pressure on roads by shifting freight movement to rail.
He said the Railways was also examining concerns related to cold-storage costs.
On expansion of freight infrastructure, Sharma said the Railways was prepared to consider additional loading points, including at Baramulla and Pattan, if sufficient traffic demand was generated from these areas.
He also referred to planned railway infrastructure development, including projects in Udhampur and discussions regarding track doubling, saying such measures would further strengthen the railway network and its freight capacity.
Sharma urged Kashmir’s fruit growers and traders to utilise dedicated railway cargo services during the forthcoming apple season, particularly in view of the uncertainties associated with road transportation.
