Srinagar, Sep 20: After the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) fleet began moving apple consignments from Sopore fruit mandi, a 14-coach goods train is being dispatched directly to Sopore to transport apple consignments to outside markets, officials said on Saturday.
The move comes after weeks of transport shortages and skyrocketing freight rates that left thousands of apple boxes stranded in the valley, especially at Asia’s second-largest fruit Mandi in Sopore.
A senior administrative official said that the special rake, arranged in coordination with Northern Railways, will begin loading at Sopore Railway Station tomorrow. “This direct service is a first for Sopore and is aimed at easing the heavy backlog of fruit boxes,” the official said, adding that the rail dispatch will provide a faster and more economical alternative to road transport.
Meanwhile, the fruit growers, reeling from repeated highway closures and lack of transport, hailed the initiative. “This is exactly what we were asking for,” said Mohammad Altaf, a grower from Zaingeer. “Highway shutdowns and skyrocketing transport rates were destroying our profits. The goods train, along with RTC trucks, gives us hope that our apples will finally reach markets on time and at fair rates.”
The growers, however, appealed for regular rail rakes until the end of the harvest.
It is noteworthy that earlier Budgam Railway Station served as the dispatch hub, forcing growers from valley parts to haul produce over long distances, however, with the direct Sopore service eliminating that extra leg, saving both time and money.
The rail intervention follows a series of emergency measures by the government this week.
Earlier, the administration deputed 55 J&K Road Transport Corporation (RTC) trucks to Sopore and Shopian mandis after private truckers either refused to operate or charged exorbitant rates.
Growers reported that freight charges to Delhi had jumped to Rs 240–Rs 250 per box, prompting the mandi association to temporarily fix reduced rates Rs 130 for Delhi and Rs 120 for Punjab, after government mediation.
“The services are likely to continue in the future”, a senior administrative official added, underlining that the government’s commitment to ensuring smooth apple evacuation from the Valley. (KNO)
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