Kolkata: Northern Railways have come forward to boost the fruit industry of Kashmir, which is the most dominant agriculture product of the state but is believed to pack in a lot more potential than it currently realises. Northern Railway’s Jammu Division recently organised a meeting of different stakeholders to boost freight and parcel movements from the valley, reports stated. The broad objective of the move to prepare a plan is to create a roadmap that will result in efficient movement of parcels from the region by railways as an alternative to road transport.
Apples and more
Kashmir has a vibrant fruit industry in which apples have the place of prominence. The size of the market is above Rs 10,000 crore and it generates more than 20 lakh tons of fruit on average every year. The apple sector also employs more than 35 lakh people. The fruit is cultivated on 3.3 lakh hectares. Walnuts, pears, cherries, plums, apricots and peaches are the other principal fruit products of Kashmir.
Improvement of loading facilities
Ways of raising the occupancy of the Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service parcel train were discussed. This train departs from Badgam in central Kashmir at 6.15 am and Adarsh Nagar in New Delhi at 5.30 am on the following day. It also stops at Bari Brahmana and Ambala cantonment and can service the businesses there too.
Officials also said that enhanced collaboration with cargo aggregators will result in seamless consolidation of smaller parcel loads, which will be easier for efficient transportation by trains. One of the plans is to improve the loading facilities at Badgam, Srinagar and Pampore railway stations. If any aggregator opts for bulk bookings, they will be given special commissions. Such incentives and competitive freight rates will help the railways in grabbing higher share of the freight from the road network.
Cost-effective and punctual trnsportation
Officials agreed that the railways should be a preferred time-bound and cost-effective alternative to road transport. “Products from Kashmir hold a distinct identity on the global stage… the Railways is not merely a mode of transport, but a partner in the economic prosperity of this region,” senior divisional commercial manager, Jammu, Uchit Singhal was quoted by PTI as saying after the meeting. If implemented, the railways can provide a boost to the economic development of the region.