SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has hailed the government’s decision to launch a daily parcel train from Budgam to Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar station for the transportation of apple consignments, calling it a timely measure to ease the burden on fruit growers and traders.
In a statement, KCCI said the move comes at a crucial juncture when Kashmir’s horticulture sector has been incurring recurring losses due to frequent blockages of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway. The highway, highly prone to landslides, snowfall, and heavy rainfall, has often left fruit-laden trucks stranded for days during the peak harvest season, causing severe financial setbacks to growers.
The Chamber noted that the dedicated parcel train would provide reliable, cost-effective, and time-bound connectivity with major markets, safeguarding the quality of Kashmir’s apples and restoring the confidence of growers. “This initiative will significantly mitigate the challenges faced by the sector and ensure that perishable produce reaches markets swiftly and safely,” the statement read.
While welcoming the service, KCCI urged the government to scale up the initiative by adding more parcel trains in the coming months and extending similar services to other regions. It stressed that given the scale of Kashmir’s horticultural output, wider rail connectivity could open up bigger markets across the country.
The Chamber expressed gratitude to the authorities for addressing this longstanding demand and assured full cooperation to ensure the success of the initiative.
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