Umaisar Gull Ganie

Srinagar, Sept 11 : To strengthen horticultural logistics in Kashmir, two coaches (parcel van) loaded with apples are set to depart from Budgam station today—one attached to a Delhi-bound train and the other to a Jammu-bound train, officials said on Thursday.

 

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the initiative is aimed at ensuring faster, safer, and more reliable transportation of Kashmiri apples to national markets, reducing dependence on the Srinagar–Jammu Highway that often remains vulnerable to weather vagaries and landslides.

 

A senior railway official told KNO that the move will directly benefit growers by saving both time and cost. “Railways has made special arrangements this season to facilitate smooth transportation of apples. With two coaches (parcel van), growers will have an assured, efficient corridor to supply their produce to different parts of the country,” he said.

 

Local orchardists have welcomed the development, terming it a major relief for the farming community. “We often suffer losses when trucks get stranded on the highway for days. Already our fruit has rotten on the Jammu–Srinagar highway in Qazigund this season. A train service gives us hope that our produce will reach markets on time and fetch better prices,” said Abdul Majid, an orchardist from Shopian.

 

Another grower, Ghulam Nabi from Pulwama, echoed similar sentiments. “This is a historic moment for us. Apple is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, and such steps will not only help farmers but also boost the overall economy of the Valley,” he said.

 

He said a full train should be used for the transportation of apples. “As we have already witnessed losses due to our rotten apples on the highway when it gets blocked for weeks, a dedicated train needs to run daily to transport our fruit to different cities of the country,” he said—(KNO)