Representative image for an apple farmer.
Credit: iStock photo
Srinagar: The Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s announcement to start a daily parcel train from Kashmir to Delhi has come as a lifeline for apple growers and traders who have been pushed to the brink by the prolonged closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH-44).
Vaishnaw announced that from September 13, a time-tabled parcel train will operate from Budgam to Adarsh Nagar in Delhi, ensuring direct access to the national capital’s Azadpur Mandi, Asia’s largest fruit hub.
“With the Jammu-Srinagar line operational, the Kashmir Valley has better connectivity. Railways is introducing a daily time-tabled parcel train from Budgam in Kashmir Valley to Adarsh Nagar station in Delhi starting 13th September 2025. Loading of 2 parcel vans carrying apples from Badgam to Delhi is beginning today,” Vaishnaw posted on X.
The Press Information Bureau said the train will depart Budgam at 6.15 am and reach Delhi at 5 am the following day, offering a predictable and faster alternative to the choked highway.
The announcement has been greeted with relief in Kashmir’s fruit belts, where orchardists have been counting mounting losses. The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union (KVFGDU) estimates that the highway shutdown has caused losses of nearly ₹700 crore this season alone.
“Hundreds of trucks carrying apples are stuck on the highway, sometimes for a week. By the time the fruit reaches Delhi, it has either rotted or fetched throwaway prices,” said Ghulam Rasool, an orchardist from south Kashmir’s Pulwama. “This train is a ray of hope for us.”
Traders, too, say they have been battered by the crisis. “Freight charges have become unsustainable. When a truck is stranded for days, fuel and labour costs pile up,” said Bashir Dar, an apple trader. “If the railways can guarantee on-time delivery, both farmers and traders will benefit.”
Apple cultivation is the backbone of Kashmir’s rural economy, engaging nearly 3.5 million people directly and indirectly. The Valley produces over 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, contributing nearly eight percent to Jammu and Kashmir’s GDP.
When the crop suffers, it sets off a ripple effect across the entire economy — from orchardists and packers to transporters and traders. “This sector is our lifeline. Without reliable connectivity, everything collapses,” said Bashir Ahmad Basheer, President of KVFGDU. “We had been pleading with the government for a dependable transport alternative. This train could be a game changer.”
The Srinagar–Jammu highway has for decades been the Valley’s fragile umbilical cord, frequently blocked by landslides, rains, and snow. With the completion of the Katra-Banihal rail link, Kashmir now has its first all-weather land route to the rest of the country.
Traders believe this could transform the way apples move out of the Valley. “If the train service is consistent, it will not only stabilize prices but also restore confidence among farmers,” said Mohammad Yousuf, a trader at Sopore Fruit Mandi. “But there must be more than one train during peak harvest.”
The service can unlock even bigger possibilities, Yousuf said. “With refrigerated vans and storage hubs, Kashmir’s produce could reach not just Delhi but other metro markets in fresher condition.”