The recent shipment of cherries from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station in Jammu and Kashmir to Mumbai within 32 hours by Indian Railways has sparked conversation among apple growers in the region about alternative transport methods for their produce. The trial involved transporting 48 MT of cherries via parcel van on the 'Swaraj Express,' reducing the transport time significantly compared to the week it usually takes by truck.
Bashir Ahmad Bashir, president of the New Kashmir Fruit Association, initiated this trial, proposing that the highly perishable cherries be transported by rail. Following this successful trial, discussions are ongoing regarding the transport of apples, a less perishable but economically critical crop in Kashmir.
Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Northern Railway, confirmed that talks are underway with fruit traders about apple transport. Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, Director of Horticulture Planning & Marketing, shared that discussions with stakeholders in the horticulture industry are needed to capitalize on this transportation method.
Kashmir's apple industry involves transporting 20 to 30 lakh MT of apples annually to various Indian mandis, traditionally using the only 275-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. This route is prone to closures due to landslides, causing delays and potential losses.
Despite the efficient rail transport demonstrated with cherries, traders like Bashir Ahmad Bashir express skepticism about applying the same method to apples. He stated that appropriate wagon facilities and direct train services from Srinagar are prerequisites for considering train transport viable for apples.
The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express passenger train, starting on June 6, between Katra and Baramulla, marks a milestone in railway development, yet challenges persist. Fayaz Ahmad Malik, president of Sopore Fruit Mandi, underscored the logistical hurdles, including the lack of train connectivity to multiple mandis and increased labor costs for loading and unloading apple boxes compared to trucks.
Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, president of the Apple Federation of Jammu and Kashmir, echoed the need for infrastructure around railway stations to facilitate such transport. He emphasized the differences in handling between cherry and apple boxes, with the current preference remaining with road transport via the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Source: ETV Bharat
