Relief on rails, anguish on roads: Cargo train begins as Kashmir apple farmers strike

On a day when Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha flagged off the first direct cargo train from Srinagar to Delhi, the apple farmers observed a strike to protest the halting of fruit-laden trucks on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

The two contrasting developments highlight both the promise and pain of Kashmir’s horticulture sector.

The daily Joint Parcel Product–Rapid Cargo Service was launched from Nowgam Railway Station by Sinha.

He said the train would provide major relief to fruit growers by ensuring that their produce reaches Delhi markets quickly.

“The start of a daily time-tabled train carrying horticultural produce to the capital is a major relief for fruit growers,” he said. “I am thankful to Railways for the initiative.”

He said disruption due to bad weather leads to frequent closure of highways, inflicting losses on perishable goods like apples and walnuts.

“Introduction of railway parcel services is a big leap towards resolving this problem,” he said.

The eight-coach cargo service will run daily between Budgam in central Kashmir and Adarsh Nagar in New Delhi, while stopping at Bari Brahmana in Jammu.

The train will ferry 24 tonnes of apples and walnuts worth ₹2.5 crore in 24 hours. Thus reducing the freight time by several days and saving the crops from damage and delay. The railway has announced a larger capacity train with 15 coaches.  

Yet, on the same day, apple mandis across Kashmir presented a deserted look due to a strike against the government's failure to ensure unhindered travel of fruit from Kashmir on the national highway.

Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union has said that the strike will continue for two days, accompanied by peaceful protests.

President of Sopore Fruit Mandi, one of Asia’s largest fruit trading centres, Fayaz Ahmed Malik, said hundreds of trucks were stuck on the highway due to damaged road conditions between Tharad and Balli Nallah in Udhampur district.

“We have already incurred losses of over ₹1,200 crore,” he said. The authorities should allow unhindered movement of fruit trucks for at least two days.”

Growers have appreciated the train service, but the trucks getting stranded on the highway have caused anxiety about losses.

Horticulture, especially apples, generates around ₹8000 crore annually. It provides livelihood to more than 30 lakh people, directly or indirectly, including seven lakh farmers. More than 70 per cent of the apples that India exports to other countries are grown in Kashmir.

For now, Kashmir’s horticulture sector stands at a crossroads—on one hand, a direct cargo train promises faster access to national markets, while on the other, broken roads and stranded trucks continue to choke the Valley’s most vital industry.