Kashmir Impulse Desk

Jammu, May 25

The season’s first special parcel van carrying fresh cherries from Kashmir was dispatched from Jammu Railway Station to Mumbai on Monday, marking the beginning of this year’s dedicated rail transportation of the fruit to major markets outside Jammu and Kashmir.

Loaded with around 12 tonnes of premium-quality cherries, the parcel van departed for Mumbai and is expected to reach the city in about 33 hours, officials said.

Railway authorities said the special parcel van was attached to the Jammu Tawi–Bandra Vivek Express, which departed from Jammu Railway Station for Bandra Terminus.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Jammu Railway Division, Uchit Singhal, described the dispatch as a significant achievement and said the consignment included nearly 966 boxes of cherries sourced from the Valley.

He said a total of 28 VP indents have so far been received from Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway stations for the transportation of cherries during the season.

Apart from the 28 special parcel vans, Singhal said the SLR (Seating-cum-Luggage Rake) coach facility available in regular trains on the route would also continue for fruit transport.

He said nearly 18 tonnes of cherries had already been transported to Mumbai earlier, adding that the railway facility would also benefit small and medium traders by enabling them to send low-volume consignments safely and affordably.

The special transportation arrangement is expected to provide a major boost to cherry growers and traders in Kashmir by ensuring quicker access to markets in western India during the peak harvesting season.