The Jammu Division of Northern Railway will transport 644 tonnes (t) of cherries from Jammu and Kashmir to Mumbai in 28 parcel trains this season. The move follows sustained coordination with cherry growers and aims to ensure faster and safer delivery of the highly perishable fruit to distant markets. Each parcel van has a capacity of 23 t and requisition processing is under way.

The division has booked 28 parcel trains for consignments to Bandra Terminus, with seven requisitions to be loaded from Jammu and 21 from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. The consignments are scheduled to move between May 25 and July 10, aligning with the peak cherry harvesting period in the region. Railway officials are organising loading and logistics to maintain cold chain and swift transit.

In 2025, 14 parcel vans of cherries were carried from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Bandra Terminus, and this year’s 28 indents represent a significant increase. The Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, Uchit Singhal, described the year as poised to be historic and attributed the rise to ongoing dialogue and coordination with fruit growers. He said the primary objective is to provide horticulturists with a safe and rapid mode of transport free from road uncertainties. The service will operate directly from Jammu and Katra to Bandra Terminus.

Officials said the parcel trains will reduce freight costs and ensure that perishable cherries reach markets outside Jammu and Kashmir within 30–33 hours while retaining freshness. Faster transit times and improved handling are expected to strengthen the horticulture economy of the region and provide growers with a reliable channel to distant markets. The scheme seeks to bolster incomes by lowering spoilage and delivering produce promptly to consumers.