The Northern Railway’s Jammu Division has achieved a major logistics milestone with the successful operation of the first full-length freight train to the Kashmir Valley, significantly boosting the region’s cargo-handling capacity.
A complete 42-BCN wagon rake carrying rice reached the Anantnag Goods Terminal within 24 hours of departure, marking the first time a full-length freight train has been operated on the route, a senior railway official told Kashmir News Service (KNS).
The rake, loaded at the Sangrur Goods Shed in Ambala Division on January 21, transported around 2,768 tonnes of rice. This represents a substantial jump from the earlier movement on December 21, when a shorter Food Corporation of India (FCI) train with 21 BCN wagons carrying about 1,384 tonnes of food grains arrived in Anantnag from Ajitwal Goods Shed in Firozpur Division.
Calling it a historic achievement, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Jammu) Uchit Singhal said the successful arrival of the first full 42-BCN rake marks a major enhancement in freight transportation and logistics for Jammu and Kashmir.
“This will significantly ease the movement of essential commodities for local traders and the public,” Singhal said, adding that rail transport enables faster, more efficient and cost-effective movement of bulk cargo from Punjab to Kashmir compared to road transport.
The initiative, a joint effort by Indian Railways and the FCI, is expected to streamline supply chains, reduce logistics costs and ensure a more reliable flow of essential goods into the Valley. Singhal noted that the service opens the door for direct rail-based supply of food grains and other commodities from across India to Kashmir.
In the long term, improved rail connectivity is expected to strengthen the region’s food security, stabilise markets, support economic development and provide a stronger foundation for the local economy. Dedicated FCI food grain trains are likely to play a key role in reinforcing the Valley’s distribution infrastructure, officials said.
