Jammu: In a first-of-its-kind initiative to transport perishable produce outside Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu railway division has gotting its first VP indent (a request for the allocation of a full parcel van for the shipment of goods) registered from Katra railway station to Bandra (Mumbai) for June 3, a senior railway official said on Saturday.
The effort, undertaken after extensive consultations with the Horticulture Department and fruit grower associations, is a welcome initiative if goes off successfully as it will offload the road traffic burden and will enable perishable goods like cherries reach its intended markets with minimal damage or deterioration in quality, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Northern Railway, Jammu, Uchit Singhal said.
He said a 24 tons of cargo will be moved in a VP attached to a goods train from Katra station to Bandra station in Mumbai. The cargo will reach its destination in 30 hours.
“It will be a win-win situation for both railways and fruit growers and in turn the economy of J&K region,” Mr. Singhal said.
The Modi-led government took several important decisions to ensure that the rail link to Kashmir is completed.
First, a division has been established in Jammu, while work on Udhampur and Jammu railway stations is underway to develop them as major stations along with Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station.
Two Vande Bharat trains will be launched from Katra to Kashmir before the service shifts to Jammu once the station is ready later this year, officials said.
First Cherry Cargo Train Set To Roll From Jammu To Mumbai On June 3
