SRINAGAR: More than 20,000 tonnes of apples have been transported from Kashmir by rail since cargo services were introduced in the Valley in September 2025, marking a significant shift in freight movement from the region, officials said.
Cargo rail operations were formally launched on September 15, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first train, an event officials described as a historic milestone for Jammu and Kashmir’s transport infrastructure.
Reviewing the performance of Northern Railway in the Union Territory during 2025, Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of the Jammu division, said the movement of apples and cement had emerged as major success stories. He said the Joint Parcel Product–Rapid Cargo Service was introduced specifically to facilitate the transport of apples from Kashmir.
“Since the service was flagged off on September 15, there has been no looking back. With the Anantnag goods shed combined, more than 20,000 tonnes of apples have been transported by rail,” Singhal said.
Officials said the introduction of rail cargo has reduced the region’s dependence on road transport, which until recently was the sole mode for moving fruit to markets across the country and to neighbouring destinations such as Bangladesh and Nepal. Frequent disruptions on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway had earlier led to heavy losses for growers and traders.
In addition to apples moving out of the Valley, railways have also begun bringing essential commodities into Kashmir. Singhal said more than 1.5 lakh tonnes of cement have been transported by rail since August 9, while automobile rakes bringing vehicles were handled for the first time. Foodgrains supplied by the Food Corporation of India were also successfully moved by rail on December 21. Other cargo included plastic crates, insulated panels and salt.
Passenger rail services have also seen steady uptake. Singhal said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express on June 6, nearly 3.75 lakh passengers have travelled on the two pairs of trains operating in the region.
The rail network also played a role in crisis management during the year. Singhal said special trains and coach augmentations were arranged following the Pahalgam attack, with a 24×7 situation room set up to monitor operations. During Operation Sindoor, close coordination was maintained with civil and military authorities, while flood relief specials, including the Katra–Sangaldan service, were operated during challenging conditions after August 26.
Meanwhile, ticket-checking drives conducted between April and December 2025 generated significant revenue. Singhal said around 54,098 passengers travelling without valid tickets or irregularly were identified during this period, resulting in a collection of about Rs 3.73 crore.
Looking ahead, he said the Jammu division would focus on increasing revenue through sustained ticket-checking campaigns in 2026, while prioritising passenger-centric measures such as improved transparency, prevention of ticket fraud and greater promotion of digital payments. -(KL)
