Anantnag: Jammu and Kashmir Sees First Direct Rail-Based Automobile Delivery
In a milestone for Jammu and Kashmir’s transport and logistics sector, the first-ever rake carrying automobiles was successfully unloaded today at the newly inaugurated Anantnag Goods Shed.
The train, dispatched from Maruti Suzuki India Limited’s Gati Shakti Terminal in Manesar, Haryana, completed a journey of over 850 kilometers in approximately 45 hours, arriving in the early hours of Friday.
According to sources, the rake carried 116 newly manufactured vehicles, marking the region’s first direct rail-based automobile transport into the Kashmir Valley. Northern Railways officials described the unloading as a “significant leap forward” for freight connectivity in the area.
“This ushers in a new era of streamlined and cost-effective automobile logistics for the Valley,” a senior railway official told reporters at the site.
Previously, vehicles had to be transported by road from railway terminals in Jammu or Punjab, a process that involved longer transit times and higher logistics costs. The new direct rail service to Anantnag is expected to reduce both, benefiting manufacturers, dealers, and consumers alike.
Local stakeholders, including automobile dealers and transport companies, have welcomed the development. “This will not only lower transportation costs but also ensure faster delivery to customers,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a vehicle distributor.
