Railways scales up Cherry transport from J&K, 28 vans booked

RK News
Comments 0
24 Apr 2026

Jammu: Jammu, Apr 23: The Jammu Division of Northern Railway has booked 28 parcel vans for transporting cherries from Jammu & Kashmir to Bandra Terminus during the 2026 harvesting season, marking a significant boost for fruit growers in the region.

Each parcel van has a carrying capacity of 23 tonnes, and the processing of requisitions is currently underway. Officials said the number of bookings reflects an increase of nearly 100 percent compared to the previous season.

The consignments will be dispatched between May 25 and July 10, coinciding with the peak cherry harvest. Of the total, seven parcel vans will be loaded from Jammu, while 21 will originate from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.

In 2025, around 14 parcel vans carrying cherries were transported from Katra to Bandra Terminus via Train No. 12472, an initiative described as a milestone in facilitating fruit transport from the region.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Jammu, Uchit Singhal, said the initiative reflects the Railways’ continued coordination with horticulturists and its commitment to providing a reliable, cost-effective, and time-bound transport system. He added that the service is aimed at ensuring perishable produce reaches distant markets within 30 to 33 hours while maintaining freshness.

Officials said the initiative is expected to significantly benefit cherry growers by reducing dependence on road transport and enhancing market access, thereby contributing to the economic growth of the region’s horticulture sector.