Kashmir Valley gets railways’ first full-rake delivery of foodgrains
By Arun Kumar Das
New Delhi, Jan 24 (BVI): A consignment of foodgrains has been delivered to Kashmir from Punjab by the railway by a full rake for the first time, marking a boost to the efforts to ensure assured ration supplies to the landlocked Valley which, at times, gets cut off from rest of the country by road due to adverse weather conditions.
Thus far, goods have been transported to the Valley by a mini-railway rake only.
The first full rake of 42 wagons transported 2,768 metric tonnes of rice from Sangrur in Punjab to Anantnag Good Shed.
Earlier, the Valley received a mini rake of 21 wagons, which transported 1,384 metric tons of goods.
The consignment was loaded at the Sangrur rail terminal on January 21 and it reached Anantnag in less than 24 hours, demonstrating unprecedented efficiency in the supply chain, a railway official said.
Despite a brief delay in unloading yesterday due to inclement weather, the handling operations were successfully completed in 24 hours, the official said.
By transitioning from mini rakes and road transport to full-capacity railway wagons, the Railways department ensured significant reduction in overall logistics and freight expenses and also reduced reliance on heavy truck traffic via the National Highway, the official said.
The milestone marks an important beginning in strengthening the food grain distribution network in the Kashmir Valley.
It will help maintain adequate buffer stocks in the Valley, particularly during adverse weather conditions, and improve the availability of food grains for local households.
Building on the successful movement of apples, cement, fertiliser and now food grain, the rail-based logistics is supporting sustained economic activity, resilience and long-term supply chain stability in the region.
The developments underline the transformative impact of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), one of the most ambitious railway engineering projects in independent India.
Even as the Valley experiences snowfall and challenging winter conditions, improved rail connectivity is strengthening trade and logistics, directly benefiting farmers, traders and households by ensuring more dependable access to essential goods. (BVI)
