Jammu, Sep 14: Creating a history of sorts, regular Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) parcel train service from Budgam Railway Station will commence from tomorrow, September 15, 2025 to provide reprieve to horticulture producers in Kashmir.
The inaugural ceremony of JPP-RCS parcel train, which will depart daily from Budgam Railway Station of Kashmir valley, will be held at Srinagar Railway Station. During the inaugural event, the parcel train will be flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at 7.30 am on Monday, September 15, 2025.
This train will run between Budgam and Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, providing a faster, safer and more economical mode of transport for the apple growers and traders of the Valley.
On the eve of the flagging off ceremony, the Additional Member (MOBD) of Railway Board Sunday conducted a high-level inspection of the important railway section from Katra Railway Station to Budgam, including the iconic Anji and Chenab bridges.
The inspection was carried out in the presence of Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Railway Division and Senior Divisional Operations Manager.
"The inspection reflects the strategic importance of this section in the network of Northern Railway. First of all, a detailed inspection of Katra Railway Station was carried out, including passenger lounges, restaurants, shopping areas etc," Singhal stated.
Further inspection also focused on operational preparedness, safety measures, structural integrity and overall progress of the route, particularly the engineering marvels - Anji bridge, India's first cable-stayed rail bridge and Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge and the review of these bridges.
"Additional Member Railway Board and senior officers of the Jammu Railway Division met apple traders, fruit growers, agglomerators in Anantnag district of Kashmir valley with the important objective of making the traders understand the importance of rail traffic over road traffic and how Indian Railways would help apple growers of Kashmir to transport their fruits to national markets quickly and efficiently, especially in a constrained situation like closure of highways," Singhal shared.
Currently apples are being transported from Kashmir to Delhi and other areas by parcel cargo trains.
"More parcel trains will be added in future. This visit underlines Indian Railways' commitment to strengthen connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir region," Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Railway Division asserted.
Earlier this new regular Delhi-Budgam-Delhi Joint Parcel Product Rapid Cargo Train (JPP-RCT) service commenced from Adarsh Nagar in Delhi on September 13, 2025, as per announced schedule.
Parcel train, comprising 8 Parcel Vans (VPs) and Seating cum Luggage Rake (SLR) from Adarsh Nagar in Delhi, carrying textiles, auto parts and other white goods (large electrical goods) reached Budgam on Sunday (September 14, 2025) morning.
"Train has 8 parcel van coaches and the weight capacity per coach is 23 tonnes. The first consignment of this train has been fully booked by traders and fruit growers and the second consignment from Budgam to Adarsh Nagar Delhi on September 16, 2025 is also fully booked," Public Relations Inspector Jammu Railway Division, Raghvender Singh informed.