Srinagar, May 27: Fayaz Ahmad Bhat’s happiness knew no bounds when he harvested a bumper cherry crop last year. However, his dreams came crashing down when his produce did not reach the outside market on time due to road closures. The 48-year-old grower from Tangmarg was forced to sell his entire produce to the valley-based dealers at a throwaway price.
Come June 2025, Bhat is expecting to make up for the losses suffered last year, thanks to the first cargo train service from Katra to Mumbai.
“Now, this year, I am taking charge of my business. We were already expecting a cargo train service from Katra to Mumbai. I am hoping for a good profit this season,” he said.
In a major move aimed at transforming the horticulture logistics sector in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has launched its first dedicated cargo train service to transport fresh produce from the region to major markets in India. The inaugural consignment — 24 tons of cherries — will be flagged off from Katra railway station to Bandra Terminus in Mumbai on June 3.
The service marks the first-ever VP indent (a formal request for a full parcel van) registered from the Jammu railway division, signaling a structured shift towards rail-based freight for perishable goods from the region. The train is expected to complete the 2,000 km journey to Mumbai in approximately 30 hours, ensuring that the highly perishable cherries reach markets in prime condition.
Cherry growers and dealers in Kashmir have welcomed the move, expressing optimism that rail transport will significantly reduce the cost and complexity of logistics.
“Air cargo and road transport are expensive and sometimes unreliable, especially for delicate fruits like cherries. With trains, we can now hope for cheaper and more consistent shipments, which means better returns for us,” said Bashir Ahmad Bashir President Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union Bashir.
He said their shipment was confined just to four tons before resulting in heavy losses to the crop.
“Now we can ship a consignment of 24 tons, which means our entire produce will reach the potential markets on time. The train cargo will reduce the freight to just Rs 8 per kilogram. We had a meeting with the government before and had put this demand for economic benefit to our growers,” Bashir said.
Earlier, the growers would ship a large part of the produce via trucks to Jammu and then via train to various markets. It would consume days together, following which many growers faced losses. Though a certain portion of this crop was shipped via air cargo to selected cities.
The development has also sparked hope among apple growers and dealers, who believe that the infrastructure and operational model created for cherry shipments can be extended to apples, the valley’s largest horticultural produce.
“This is a good beginning. If the government ensures regularity and efficiency in such cargo services, it will provide a huge boost to apple exports as well,” said Muhammad Yousuf Bhat, an apple trader in Sopore.
Pertinently, Union Minister Jitendra Singh hailed the first cargo train service transporting cherries from Jammu and Kashmir to Mumbai as a significant step towards boosting the region’s economy and connecting Kashmir with national markets.