Srinagar, May 26: For the first time, cherries from Jammu and Kashmir will be transported to Mumbai by train, beginning from June 3, marking a major step in moving perishable goods quickly and safely by rail.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) Northern Railway, Jammu, Uchit Singhal told Rising Kashmir that a formal request for the allocation of a full parcel van has been registered from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) railway station to Bandra, Mumbai. The shipment will comprise 24 tonnes of cherries and will reach its destination within 30 hours, he said.
“This initiative is the result of continuous coordination with the Horticulture Department and various fruit growers’ associations. If successful, it will mark a major milestone in the transportation of perishable goods from the region, providing a win-win situation for both the railways and local growers,” Singhal said.
The upcoming cargo train marks the operationalization of the newly created Jammu Railway Division, which was inaugurated earlier this year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier a high-level delegation from the New Kashmir Fruit Association (NKFA), Fruit Mandi Parimpora, Srinagar, led by President Bashir Ahmad Basheer, met with Uchit Singhal and his team of officers at the Rail Head in Jammu Tawi.
The delegation, which included NKFA Transport Committee Chairman Ali Mohammad Reshi and senior member Mohammad Yaseen Bhat, discussed logistical arrangements for the smooth rail transportation of cherries from the Valley to major urban markets across India.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Basheer, the delegation successfully secured the attachment of a 25-ton capacity VPU (Parcel Van) with Train No. 19028 (Vivek Express) from Jammu and Train No. 12472 (Swaraj Express) from SVDK (Katra). Both trains will serve as vital links in ferrying cherry consignments to Mumbai.
“However, operational limitations remain. The Vivek Express operates only once a week, while the Swaraj Express runs three times weekly — on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. This poses a scheduling challenge for consistent shipments during the short cherry harvesting season,” he said.
Basheer further said that to enhance freight capacity, the NKFA is also making efforts to secure additional bogies for attachment with Train No. 12926 (Paschim Express) from Amritsar. However, the railway authorities have stipulated an advance freight payment requirement for the full 25-ton capacity, regardless of the actual load transported.
“The advance freight condition is a financial burden, especially when cherry loads fluctuate. Still, we are hopeful of finding a working solution with railway officials,” he said.
The NKFA team is also scheduled to visit the SVDK station in the coming days to oversee final logistical preparations and ensure the cargo is loaded and dispatched under secure and hygienic conditions. The association is optimistic that its efforts will pave the way for long-term rail-based transportation solutions for other perishable fruits as well.
Fruit growers from Kashmir have long demanded a dedicated rail cargo facility to reduce post-harvest losses and broaden their access to markets across India. With the commencement of this cherry shipment via rail, horticultural stakeholders are viewing this as a breakthrough moment for the region’s agri-economy.
If the trial run on June 3 proves successful, it could set the stage for regularized rail cargo operations for seasonal fruits like apples, pears, and plums, revolutionizing cold-chain logistics from the Himalayan region.
Carved out of the Firozpur Division, the Jammu Railway Division is the 69th rail division in the country and is functioning under the administrative control of the Northern Railway (NR) zone.
