Jammu, June 29: Scripting a new success story and bringing cheer to cherry growers from the Valley, Jammu Railway Division has transported 334 tonnes of luscious fruit through 13 Parvel Vans (VPs) and routine parcel booking in the past one month to Mumbai from Katra and Jammu.
Overwhelmed cherry growers have acknowledged this feat with a sense of gratitude in writing to the officials of Indian Railways and Jammu Division in particular.
“This year, during the cherry season, about 13 parcel vans of cherries were loaded from Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra for Bandra Terminus in 26 days only and about 334 tonnes of cherries were loaded in the SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rack) of trains and sent to Mumbai through regular parcel booking,” stated Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of Jammu (Railway) Division.
Notably, the “game changer” initiative, led by Singhal, commenced on May 31, 2025 under the guidance of Divisional Railway Manager of Jammu Division, Vivek Kumar.
Creating a sort of history after the formation of Jammu Railway Division, the first cherry cargo train (parcel van) was dispatched from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station for Bandra Terminus. 24 tonnes of cherry fruit were transported from Katra through train number 12472 in the very first dispatch.
“This unique initiative was taken at the behest of the fruit growers associations and the Horticulture Department of Jammu and Kashmir by loading cherries in the first parcel van from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Bandra Terminus. It was a successful effort whereby the goods of the traders were delivered to their destination station in a short time,” Singhal pointed out.
He said that moving forward in this direction, Parcel Vans were made available in train numbers 12472 and 19028 on the demand of the cherry growers associations of Kashmir Valley to transport cherries to Bandra Terminus.
Acknowledging the success of this initiative, the traders and cherry growers associations have expressed their gratitude to the railways and its officials.
in a letter of thanks addressed to Singhal, Bashir Ahmad Bashir, chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union and president The New Kashmir Fruit Association said, “Cherry is indeed an extremely delicious fruit and it is important for it to reach its destination station within shortest possible time, being a perishable commodity.”
