Srinagar: In a major boost for Kashmir’s horticulture sector hit by frequent highway closures, Indian Railways has began loading fresh apples onto two dedicated parcel trains from Budgam — one headed to Delhi and the other to Jammu.
The two dedicated parcel vans would depart from Budgam railway station from Saturday.
Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw said this facility will empower Kashmir apple growers.
“With the Jammu-Srinagar line operational, the Kashmir valley has better connectivity. Railways is introducing a daily time-tabled parcel train from Badgam in Kashmir Valley to Adarsh Nagar station in Delhi starting 13th September 2025. Loading of 2 parcel vans carrying apples from Badgam to Delhi is beginning today,” Vaishnaw said in a post on X.
Officials said Indian Railways has provided two Vehicle Parcel (LVPH coaches) trains for the transportation of apples. Each Vehicle Parcel will carry 23 metric tonnes (MT) of apples.
The Principal Chief Commercial Manager of Northern Railway and Divisional Railway Manager of Jammu Division are in constant touch with state authorities, the horticulture department, fruit growers’ associations, and traders.
As the major apple season begins, Indian Railways is introducing a daily time-tabled parcel train between Badgam and Adarsh Nagar (Delhi) from September 13. This train will provide flexibility to individual traders and fruit growers to book one Vehicle Parcel online through the portal www.fois.indianrail.gov.in.
A notification for an 8 Vehicle Parcel (VP) daily time-tabled Joint Parcel Product- Rapid Cargo Service parcel train Adarsh Nagar-Bari Brahman-Badgam (Ex ANDI – BBMN-BDGM) has already been issued.
This 8 Vehicle Parcel train will originate from Badgam Railway Station (BDGM) at 6:15 am and reach Adarsh Nagar Railway Station (ANDI) at 5 am the next day, which is a very suitable time for apples to arrive at the Delhi market early in the morning, an official spokesman said.
Indian Railways said it is ready to run more such trains if further demand is received.
Chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union, Bashir Ahmed said that while the parcel vans would help the growers, they were expecting goods trains to ferry the fruit from Kashmir.
“We are hopeful that goods train from Kashmir will start soon and we have started registration of growers from that,” Ahmed said.
The closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, damaged by recent heavy rains, has left Kashmir’s apple industry reeling at the height of the harvest season. Growers say they are unable to transport their produce to markets outside the Valley, resulting in mounting losses.
September is the peak apple harvesting season, and the industry is facing massive losses.
Under normal circumstances, nearly 1,000 trucks loaded with apples leave the Valley every day for markets across the country. Now only a handful of small vehicles manage to ply the Mughal Road — an alternative route growers insist is far from sufficient.
Horticulture is the mainstay of Kashmir’s economy with seven lakh families directly and indirectly associated with the sector. Horticulture accounts for nearly 7% of Jammu and Kashmir’s Gross State Domestic Product, with the union Territory standing as the country’s largest apple producer.
Annual production of the fruit touches around 19 lakh metric tonnes.
UNI
