Srinagar: The first freight train to Kashmir reached the Anantnag goods shed in southern part of the state on Saturday. This is being seen as a major development that will allow quicker and cheaper movement of goods between Kashmir and the rest of the country.
The train was carrying cement from Rupnagar, Punjab, and marks a significant milestone in connecting Kashmir to the national freight network, Northern Railway (NR) said.
The arrival of the cement is set to accelerate infrastructure projects and improve the standard of living of the people of Kashmir, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, CPRO, NR, said.
“The inaugural freight train was loaded with 21 BCN wagons of cement. The journey, spanning approximately 600 kilometers, culminated at the newly commissioned Anantnag goods shed today in less than 18 hours,” he said.
He added that this event marks the “first-ever cement loading specifically for this facility, underscoring its readiness to support a new era of logistical and economic growth in the Kashmir region.”
The spokesperson said the cement transported on this train will be used for crucial projects, including the construction of roads, bridges, public infrastructure, and residential housing in the Kashmir Valley.
“An indent was placed with NR at 23:14 hrs on August 7, with the rake placement occurring at 09.40 am on August 8. Loading was completed by 6.10 pm on August 8, and the train departed from the Gujarat Ambuja Cement Limited (GACL) facility in Rupnagar, Punjab at 6.55 pm,” Upadhyay said.
The freight was hauled by an Electric WAG-9 locomotive. In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged-off the first Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Srinagar, marking the first rail connectivity to the Valley.
