Jammu, 16 April (H.S.): The Jammu Division of Northern Railway said it will operate a Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) train between Adarsh Nagar in New Delhi and Budgam in central Kashmir from April 17, offering relief to traders in the Valley, particularly fruit growers and handicrafts merchants.

The service will run regularly on a trial basis till May 31, after which it is likely to be inducted into regular service subject to satisfactory occupancy levels, an official release said.

Train 00462 will depart from Budgam at 6.15 am and arrive at Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar at 5 am the following day.

To facilitate loading and unloading operations en route, the train will also make scheduled halts at Bari Brahmana and Ambala cantonment stations.

The timing for Train 00462 at Bari Brahmana Railway Station has been revised to provide greater convenience to the trading community, the statement said. On the return journey, Train 00461 will depart from Adarsh Nagar at 5 am and arrive at Budgam at 10:45 am the next day.

It said this special parcel train would consist of eight parcel vans and one seating-cum-luggage rake.

The railways said the service offers faster transit than road transport, covering the distance in 23-24 hours and ensuring perishable goods such as apples and cherries remain fresh.

“This initiative has been undertaken with the objective of strengthening the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and facilitating the rapid transport of local products — such as saffron, walnuts, pashmina shawls, and handicrafts — to markets across the country,” the release said.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said the Northern Railway has decided to run the parcel train on regular basis from April 17 to May 31 following persistent demand from traders and farmers.

“Our primary objective is to provide fruit growers and handicraft traders in Kashmir with a fast, safe, and economical mode of transport,” he said.C

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar