Cargo service train to operate between Delhi and Kashmir from Friday: Northern Railway
Jammu, April 16
A joint parcel product rapid cargo service train will operate from Adarsh Nagar in New Delhi to Budgam in Kashmir from Friday, Northern Railway officials said on Thursday.
A statement by the Northern Railway said that the JPP-RCS train will run between Adarsh Nagar station in New Delhi and Budgam in Central Kashmir.
Officials said this will give relief to traders in the Valley, particularly fruit growers and handicrafts artisans. The service will run regularly on a trial basis till May 31, after which it is likely to be inducted into regular service subject to satisfactory occupancy levels, an official release said.
Train 00462 will depart from Budgam at 6.15 a.m. and arrive at Delhi's Adarsh Nagar at 5 a.m. the following day.
To facilitate loading and unloading operations en route, the train will also make scheduled halts at Bari Brahmana and Ambala cantonment stations.
The timing for Train 00462 at Bari Brahmana Railway Station has been revised to provide greater convenience to the trading community, the statement said.
On the return journey, Train 00461 will depart from Adarsh Nagar at 5 a.m. and arrive at Budgam at 10.45 a.m. the next day. This special parcel train would consist of eight parcel vans and one seating-cum-luggage rake.
The railways said the service offers faster transit than road transport, covering the distance in 23-24 hours and ensuring perishable goods such as apples and cherries remain fresh.
"This initiative has been undertaken with the objective of strengthening the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and facilitating the rapid transport of local products, such as saffron, walnuts, pashmina shawls, and handicrafts to markets across the country," the press statement said.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal told reporters that Northern Railway has decided to run the parcel train on a regular basis from April 17 to May 31 following persistent demand from traders and farmers.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great news for artisans. Getting Kashmiri handicrafts and pashmina shawls to markets in Delhi and beyond faster will help preserve their freshness and quality. This should boost tourism-linked industries too. Well done, Railways!
While the intent is good, I hope the logistics and last-mile connectivity are properly planned. Just reaching Budgam or Adarsh Nagar isn't enough. There needs to be efficient cold storage and loading facilities at both ends for this to truly benefit farmers.
Connecting regions through better logistics is always positive for development. Faster transport for perishable goods like cherries can open up new export possibilities. Hope this model can be replicated for other horticulture-rich areas like Himachal or the Northeast.
Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisaan! This is the kind of infrastructure development that directly supports our annadata (food providers). A 24-hour link to the capital for saffron and walnuts is brilliant. Hope the freight rates are kept reasonable for the farmers' sake.
As someone from Jammu, glad to see Bari Brahmana is a scheduled halt. This will help integrate the economy of the entire Jammu & Kashmir region with the national supply chain. A small but significant step towards better connectivity.
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