Delhi Bound: Apples were loaded on Thursday into a land van at Budgam station in Kashmir. | Photo credit: x/@ashwinivaishnaw
In order to alleviate the struggle of apples in Kashmir on Thursday, the Minister of Railway Ashwini Vaishnaw announced about the start of a daily land train between Budgam in the valley and Adarsh Nagar in Delhi.
This step comes as orcharders in southern Kashmir, where hundreds of trucks loaded by Apple produce 200 CRORE 200 CRORE to close the National Srinagar-Jamm highway in the last 13 days after the slips launched by heavy rains. Many trucks had to interpret rotten apples in orchards and highways.
“The authorization of Kashmir’s apple growers. With the Jammu-Srinagar line, the Kashmir Valley has better connectivity. The railway introduces the daily time train from Budgam in the Kashmir Valley to Adarsh Nagar in Delhi, starting on 13 September 2025,” Vaishnaw said on X.
On Thursday, two parcel vans carrying apples from Budgam to Delhi were loaded. “Every delivery carries 23 metric tons of apples,” the clerk said.
The train will leave Budgam on Saturday at 6.15 and the next day at 5 am will reach Adarsh Nagar at 5 o’clock, “which is a suitable time for the apples to arrive early,” the clerk said.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Railways for the start of the service.
“My sincere gratitude to the Minister of Railway for support for support for this initiative. We were in contact with us to deal with the problem. Frequent closure of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, damaged by recent heavy rains, left Kashmir apple industries.
Orcharders are moving
The official stated that the railways are ready to operate more such trains if there is another demand. Apple orcharders and dealers welcomed the steps in the valley and emphasized the need to push other train services to save the horticultural sector.
“Thousands of trucks have been stuck over the last two weeks. Losses are estimated to be around ₹ -200 £ crore. Javed, apple dealer and J&K KRUITS and GREGEBS Processing and integrated Cold Chain Association, Hindu said.
“I’m afraid it will affect the whole season because the quality of apples of cashmere apples is set and affects the prices for the whole season. If the problem persists, we look at loss in thousands of Crores. There are many fruit trucks that need more than 4 40 tons that Three, which need to be twice as much as a fruit for at least 10-15 days to alleviate pressure, ”said Mr. Javed.
In the years 2023-24, Apple J&K production was 20.40 lakh tons and contributed over 70% of the country’s total production.
Published – September 12, 2025 02:45
