Anantnag, Oct 03: In a landmark development for Jammu and Kashmir’s logistics and transport infrastructure, the first-ever rake carrying automobiles was successfully unloaded today at the newly operational Anantnag Goods Shed.
The train, dispatched from Maruti Suzuki India Limited’s Gati Shakti Terminal in Manesar, Haryana, arrived in the early hours of Friday, completing a journey of over 850 kilometers in approximately 45 hours.
According to KNS, the rake carried 116 newly manufactured vehicles, marking the beginning of direct rail-based automobile transport into the Kashmir Valley.
Officials from the Northern Railways confirmed the successful unloading operation, calling it a “significant leap forward” in the region’s freight connectivity.
“This marks the Valley’s entry into a new era of streamlined and cost-effective automobile logistics,” a senior railway official at the site told reporters.
Until now, vehicles had to be transported by road from railway terminals in Jammu or Punjab, often resulting in longer transit times and higher logistics costs.
The arrival of the automobile rake directly to Anantnag is expected to significantly reduce both, benefiting manufacturers, dealers, and ultimately, consumers.
Local stakeholders, including automobile dealers and transport companies, welcomed the development. “This will not only bring down transportation costs but also ensure faster delivery to customers,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a vehicle distributor.–(KNS)
