Railways to launch parcel van service for apple growers

Srinagar, Aug 08: In a major push to support Kashmir’s fruit industry, the Indian Railways is preparing to roll out a dedicated parcel van service from Budgam to New Delhi, aimed at easing the Valley’s transport bottlenecks during the peak apple harvest season.The service, which will primarily cater to apple growers, is expected to significantly reduce travel time, lower transportation costs, and ensure that fruit reaches markets in fresher condition—directly impacting both quality and pricing.Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (SDCM) of the Jammu Division, Northern Railway, confirmed that the proposal is under final consideration. “We’ve completed two rounds of stakeholder consultations with growers and the Horticulture Department. Their response has been very encouraging,” he said.The move follows the successful trial earlier this year when cherry consignments were transported from Katra to Mumbai, cutting delivery time from three days to just 30 hours.In Shopian, one of the Valley’s key apple-producing districts, growers have expressed relief at the plan. “We face massive losses every year due to road delays,” said Bashir Ahmad, an orchardist. “If apples can reach Delhi within a day, our returns will be much better.”Ghulam Nabi Dar from Sopore echoed the sentiment. “Buyers complain about bruised fruit and inconsistent supply. With the Railways stepping in, we have a reliable alternative to trucks.”For smaller growers, the service could be a lifeline. “Big traders can manage losses and cold storage. We can’t,” said Asif Lone, a young grower from Pulwama. “A direct parcel van service to Delhi gives us a fair chance to compete.”To support the new service, the Railways is finalising a goods shed at Anantnag, which will facilitate the inward movement of essential commodities such as cement and food grains, further strengthening the Valley’s logistics network.“The goods shed at Anantnag is nearly complete, and notification is in process,” said Singhal.On the passenger front, the Jammu Division is working to extend the Vande Bharat service from Katra to Jammu. Platform upgrades and yard remodelling at Jammu railway station are underway, with plans to increase the number of platforms from three to seven.The division plans to explore new railway links within the Valley, including to Pahalgam, Uri, and Kupwara, along with doubling the line from Baramulla or Budgam across the Pir Panjal to accommodate more trains.For apple growers, though, the focus is firmly on the coming harvest. “If this parcel service starts on time, it will be the best news for us in years,” Bashir Ahmad said. “We just want our apples to reach the market fresh, everything else will take care of itself.”