Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg has strongly encouraged fruit growers, traders, and other stakeholders in Kashmir to significantly increase their utilization of railway goods and freight services for the transportation of horticulture produce, with a particular emphasis on apples destined for domestic markets and international destinations. This directive comes as the region seeks to optimize its logistics for the lucrative fruit season.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that Garg, while presiding over a meeting to assess the current use of railway freight for moving horticulture produce from Kashmir, highlighted the advantages of rail transport. He articulated that this mode of transit presents a cost-effective, efficient, and streamlined option for dispatching substantial volumes of fruit to far-flung locations. The meeting saw the participation of key figures including IGP Traffic Kashmir M. Soleman Choudhary, Deputy Commissioners from various districts, Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, representatives from Northern Railway, officials from the Industries and Commerce and Information Departments, and delegates from numerous fruit associations.
In his capacity as Divisional Commissioner, Garg issued clear instructions to all Deputy Commissioners and the Director of Horticulture Planning and Marketing. They are tasked with initiating consultations with fruit growers, traders, fruit associations, and aggregators to foster greater acceptance and adoption of railway freight services. A core component of this initiative involves raising awareness about the economic benefits associated with rail transport and actively facilitating its increased use during the peak fruit harvesting and marketing period. The aim is to ensure that the logistical infrastructure is robust enough to handle the seasonal surge in produce.
Furthermore, Garg directed the Director of Horticulture Planning and Marketing to establish effective coordination mechanisms among growers, traders, associations, and railway authorities. This collaborative effort is crucial for ensuring the smooth and timely movement of horticulture produce from the orchards to the markets, thereby minimizing post-harvest losses and maximizing returns for the growers. The emphasis is on creating a seamless supply chain that benefits all parties involved.
The Divisional Commissioner underscored the importance of strengthening the rail-based transportation infrastructure within the region. He specifically called for maximizing the volume of horticulture produce that is moved through Jablipora Mandi in Anantnag, identifying it as a key hub for rail logistics. Additionally, he instructed Deputy Commissioners to investigate the feasibility of routing a specified percentage of fruit consignments originating from their respective districts via railway services, thereby diversifying transport options and reducing reliance on road transport alone.
During the review of the Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) service, Garg requested officials from Northern Railway to prepare and share an informational video. This video is intended to provide fruit associations with detailed technical specifications for trucks, including permissible load heights and other essential standards. The objective is to ensure that stakeholders are well-informed and can optimize their use of the Ro-Ro service, which is designed to facilitate the efficient transport of loaded trucks on railway wagons.
The meeting also addressed the ongoing challenges and practices related to the road transportation of fruit consignments. Both the Divisional Commissioner and the IGP Traffic issued directives to the fruit associations, urging them to conduct extensive sensitization programs for truck drivers. These programs are to focus on strict adherence to prescribed load limits on the critical Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The officials reiterated that overloading is not only a violation of regulatory norms but also poses significant risks to road safety and complicates traffic management efforts. They issued a stern warning that vehicles found contravening the permissible load norms would face stringent legal action, underscoring the administration’s commitment to enforcing traffic safety regulations.
Representatives from various fruit associations presented a series of suggestions to the administration, seeking the implementation of long-term measures to bolster the transportation infrastructure supporting the horticulture sector. A key demand from the associations was for improved connectivity between fruit mandis and the railway network, which they believe is essential for ensuring the unimpeded and efficient movement of produce from the point of origin to the final market. They also expressed their appreciation for the administration’s consistent support for the horticulture industry and its ongoing endeavors to enhance the transportation and marketing of fruit produce.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.