Has the First Automobile Freight Train Successfully Arrived in Kashmir?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- First-ever automobile freight train successfully arrives in Anantnag.
- Significant reduction in transportation costs for vehicles.
- Direct rail service enhances logistics efficiency.
- Year-round vehicle availability for residents.
- Complements the recent arrival of the Vande Bharat train.
Srinagar, Oct 3 (NationPress) In a groundbreaking move that is set to revolutionize automobile freight between the rest of India and Kashmir, the inaugural rake carrying automobiles was successfully unloaded on Friday at the newly operational goods shed in Anantnag district.
This train, dispatched from Manesar, Haryana, reached Anantnag this morning after covering over 850 kilometers in just 45 hours.
The rake transported 116 newly manufactured vehicles, heralding a new chapter in direct rail-based automobile transport into the Kashmir Valley. This is a major advancement in the region's freight connectivity.
Railway officials remarked, “This represents the Valley's entry into a new era of streamlined and cost-effective automobile logistics.”
Previously, vehicles were transported by road from railway terminals in Jammu or Punjab, often leading to prolonged transit times and elevated logistics costs.
The direct arrival of the automobile rake at Anantnag is anticipated to greatly diminish transportation costs, benefiting manufacturers, dealers, and ultimately, consumers.
Local stakeholders, including automobile dealers and transport firms, have welcomed this development. Another significant advantage for automobile dealers and buyers in the Valley is the year-round availability of vehicles, regardless of weather conditions.
Currently, automobiles are transported into the Valley via the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, which often remains closed for extended periods due to landslides, mudslides, and falling rocks.
The recent arrival of the Vande Bharat train from Katra to Kashmir has already transformed surface transport in the Valley.
By next month, the Vande Bharat train service is expected to commence operations from Jammu railway station to Kashmir, fulfilling the long-held dream of rail connectivity to the Valley that has persisted for over 150 years.
The arrival of this train has provided substantial relief to traders, students, professionals, and the general public, as rail travel offers an affordable and all-weather transportation option for the landlocked Valley.