Railways charts roadmap to boost Kashmir’s fruit trade via Parcel Trains

Jammu, Apr 3: A high-level meeting was convened today in the Jammu Division to strategize measures aimed at transforming the economic landscape of the Kashmir Valley by linking its renowned fruit industry and parcel trade with national markets.
According to a statement, the meeting was presided over by the Additional Member (Commercial) of the Railway Board and attended by Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, Uchit Singhal, along with parcel traders from Kashmir, prominent fruit growers, and key cargo aggregators.
The primary objective of the deliberations was to develop a comprehensive roadmap to enhance parcel traffic from the Kashmir region.
Discussions focused on positioning rail transport as a reliable, time-bound, and cost-effective alternative to roadways, particularly for the transportation of cherries and other perishable produce.
Key strategies included increasing the occupancy of the JPP-RCS Parcel Train, which departs from Badgam at 6:15 AM and reaches Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, at 5:30 AM the following day via Bari Brahmana and Ambala Cantt, ensuring timely delivery of goods to markets.
Participants also agreed on collaborating with cargo aggregators to support small-scale traders by enabling consolidation of smaller consignments for efficient rail transportation.
Plans were further shared to upgrade loading infrastructure at Badgam, Srinagar, and Pampore railway stations to facilitate smoother operations.
To incentivize greater usage of rail services, the Railway administration discussed offering competitive freight rates and introducing concession schemes for bulk bookings by aggregators.
Speaking on the occasion, Uchit Singhal emphasized the unique global identity of Kashmir’s products and highlighted the Railways’ commitment to establishing a seamless supply chain.
He noted that the initiative aims to empower farmers and traders by enabling uninterrupted transport of goods across the country, positioning the Railways as a key partner in the region’s economic growth. (KNO)