- First special parcel van carrying 12 tonnes of premium fruit from Jammu
- Special logistics arrangements made as Valley’s fruit season gathers pace
Srinagar|May, 24: In a major boost to Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture sector, Indian Railways on Sunday flagged off the season’s first special parcel van carrying premium Kashmiri cherries to Mumbai, aiming to ensure faster delivery and better market access for fruit growers in the Valley.
Around 12 tonnes of cherries packed in nearly 966 boxes were loaded into the dedicated parcel van at Jammu railway station on Saturday. The van is scheduled to be attached to Train No. 19028 Jammu Tawi–Bandra Terminus Vivek Express, which will depart for Mumbai at 5:45 am on May 25.
Railway officials said the consignment is expected to reach Bandra Terminus in approximately 33 hours, significantly reducing transit time and helping preserve the freshness and quality of the highly perishable fruit.
The initiative comes as the cherry harvesting season gains momentum in Kashmir, where growers often face challenges related to transportation delays, spoilage and limited access to distant markets.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Jammu, Uchit Singhal, said the Railways has put in place special logistics arrangements this season to support fruit growers and traders.
“Indian Railways is committed to ensuring that the hard work of J&K orchardists gets access to a nationwide market and better prices. Cherry is an extremely delicate fruit and timely delivery is crucial. We have adequate parcel vans and resources available this season to meet the demand,” Singhal said.
Officials said the dedicated parcel van service is expected to provide relief to growers by ensuring faster movement of produce to major consumption centres like Mumbai, where demand for fresh Kashmiri cherries remains high during the summer season.
Railways said 28 VP indents for cherry transportation have already been received from Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway stations, indicating strong demand from traders.
Apart from dedicated parcel vans, officials said the SLR coach facility in regular trains will also continue for small and medium traders transporting lower-volume consignments.
“Earlier, around 18 tonnes of cherries have already been transported to Mumbai. Small traders will also benefit from affordable and secure transportation facilities,” Singhal added.
The development is being seen as a significant logistical support for Kashmir’s horticulture economy, which contributes substantially to rural livelihoods in the Valley.
Growers and traders said faster rail connectivity could help minimise losses caused by delayed transportation and improve returns by enabling produce to reach markets in fresher condition.
The cherry season marks the beginning of Kashmir’s annual fruit cycle and is often viewed as an indicator of market activity ahead of the larger apple harvest later in the year.
Officials said Indian Railways is aiming to strengthen cold-chain-linked agricultural logistics and support the broader push towards expanding market linkages for Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture produce across the country.
