The Parcel Department of the Amritsar railway station has transported 13 tonnes of high quality cherries of Kashmiri origin to Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Kashmir’s red cherries are reaching Mumbai, Vadodara and Surat via rail speed during the summer season. Officials say rail connectivity to the valley has offered fast and smooth transportation of delicate fruits like cherry.
Growers are relieved that cherries are being shipped from Amritsar to Bandra, Vadodara and Surat on Western Railway.
The Ferozepur Division has played a key role in the transportation and the city Railway Station has ensured excellent parcel loading and handling arrangements.
During May, approximately 12.97 tonnes of premium-quality cherries were loaded from Amritsar via the parcel-SLR service. Of the consignment, about 1,157 boxes of cherries were dispatched to Mumbai, Vadodara and Surat. The parcel-SLR service is being facilitated through Train No. 12926 (Paschim Superfast Express) and Train No. 12904 (Golden Temple Mail).
Divisional Railway Manager, Ferozepur, Sanjeev Kumar said for perishable fruits like cherries, timely transportation poses the greatest challenge. Keeping this in mind, the Ferozepur Division has ensured robust logistical arrangements. The parcel-SLR service reaches Vadodara and Surat in about 29 hours and travels from Amritsar to Bandra in 31 hours. This ensures that the freshness and quality of the cherries are preserved, as the fresh fruit reaches Mumbai markets directly.
He stated that the Ferozepur Division is committed to providing superior parcel-SLR service to cherry growers. The division has arranged adequate parcel-SLR and other resources for cherry transportation and is providing uninterrupted service as per the demand of traders, he added. The division is not only facilitating transportation but also helping cherry growers in Jammu and Kashmir obtain better prices for their produce.
