Opening new vistas
Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing some major milestones over the past few years. Many sectors have seen tremendous developments that have the capacity to open new vistas in many important sectors that can contribute to the regions overall growth and sustainable development.
Since Jammu and Kashmir is an agrarian region whose dependence on agricultural and other cash crops is huge, any development in this sector that has the potential to increase revenues and create new opportunities will open up new doors for enhancing the regions GDP.
One such major milestone in agricultural logistics for Jammu and Kashmir is the announcement of regions first-ever dedicated cherry cargo train to Mumbai within a few days.
The move is designed to streamline the transportation of perishable produce which has always been a cause of concern for the farmers involved in cherry production.
The initiative, led by Northern Railway’s Jammu Division in close coordination with the Horticulture Department and fruit grower associations, aims to reduce the reliance on road transportation, minimize post-harvest losses, and ensure quicker access to distant markets.
Cherry produced in Kashmir has tremendous market potential but since the product is highly perishable, the produce could not meet the expectations of the producers and the end users.
Since cherry produced here has high water content, this makes them prone to spoilage and requires careful handling and storage to maintain their quality. The produce though highly sought after has a short shelf life, which can range from a few days to a week, depending on factors like temperature, humidity, and handling.
Kashmir cherries are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, which can affect their quality and shelf life and hence their speedy transportation to end user markets was highly desirable.
The move to start a cherry cargo train marks a significant step towards revolutionizing the way all perishable goods including cherries are transported from Jammu and Kashmir. The dedicated parcel van, with a cargo capacity of 24 tons, will be attached to a goods train departing from Katra and is expected to reach Bandra in Mumbai within 30 hours.
Importantly, the initiative is expected to be highly beneficial to all stakeholders involved—from fruit growers and traders to end consumers—by preserving fruit quality through faster transit and reducing transport-related damages.
Interestingly, this model could serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives in the future. It’s a win-win for the railways, the horticulture sector, and the overall economy of Jammu and Kashmir.
The decision to utilize railways for cherry transportation comes in the backdrop of increasing demand for more efficient and climate-resilient logistics infrastructure to support the region’s horticulture produce. Traditionally, perishable fruits like cherries have been transported via road, which is not only time-consuming but also prone to damage due to the region’s challenging terrain and weather conditions.
The upcoming train service is also expected to reduce vehicular traffic on highways, lower carbon emissions, and offer a cost-effective solution to long-distance fruit transportation. If this pilot shipment proves successful, it can be expanded to include other fruits and vegetables during peak seasons.
