Kashmir Impulse Desk

Jammu, April 23 

India’s railways will transport 644 tonnes of cherries from Jammu and Kashmir to Mumbai during the 2026 harvest season, in a move aimed at boosting returns for growers and ensuring faster delivery of perishable produce.

The Jammu division of Northern Railway has registered bookings for 28 parcel vans to carry the fruit to Bandra Terminus, a railway official said. Each van has a capacity of 23 tonnes, with processing of the consignments currently underway.

The volume represents roughly a doubling from the previous year, when about 14 parcel vans were used to transport cherries, mainly from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station.

Shipments this year will originate from Jammu Tawi railway station and Katra, with seven consignments planned from Jammu and 21 from Katra, all bound for Mumbai. The transport window for the cherry season is expected to run from May 25 to July 10.

Officials said the initiative is part of efforts by Indian Railways to provide a reliable alternative to road transport, which can be affected by delays and damage risks.

The service is expected to deliver consignments within 30 to 33 hours, helping preserve freshness and reduce losses, while lowering freight costs for growers in the region.

Railway authorities said closer coordination with horticulturists in Kashmir has driven higher uptake of the service, which they described as a step toward improving market access and incomes for farmers.