Editorial | Operate Regular Parcel Services

This crisis has come before. For decades, the destiny of the Kashmiri apple has hung in balance with the fragile highway. When traffic flows, the industry gets its breath. When it is halted, thousands of families suffocate. Temporary reassurances have not worked. Announcements are made and disappear, but farmers still suffer. This has to stop. The government must see beyond patchwork solutions and devise a permanent solution. One such solution is the steady operation of parcel trains.

Here, the action of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to open a parcel service from Nowgam railway station to Delhi is a watershed moment. This action confirms that the government is aware of growers’ agony and willing to act with foresight. The service, if regularized, can become the lifeline of the apple industry.

Trains provide assurance that the highway is not able to. They are never held up in traffic jams. They are never disrupted by landslides. They run on time and bring produce fresh to Delhi mandis, Mumbai mandis, Bangalore mandis, and beyond. This results in improved prices for farmers and assured supplies for merchants. The LG’s move is evidence that railways can be leveraged to end the uncertain cycle that bedevils apple farmers each season.

The advantage accrues not only to growers. Parcel services on a regular basis will generate employment in packing, loading, and logistics. Cold storage centers will spring up near railheads. Transport charges will decrease, keeping Kashmiri apples competitive in Indian markets. Exporters too will benefit, as parcel connectivity will enable quicker movement to ports. With coordination, apples from Sopore or Shopian can get to overseas customers in a matter of days. This is what happens in modern supply chains. Kashmir cannot be left behind in all this progress.

The government should realize that the apple sector is too large to be left on the mercy of the highway. The income from apples contributes over 70 percent to Kashmir’s horticulture income. It contributes largely to the GDP of Jammu and Kashmir. A weak transport infrastructure undermines the overall economy of the Valley. Conversely, a robust railway-driven supply chain can breathe life into the industry.

There is also the psychological advantage. Each year, when trucks become stalled, farmers feel abandoned. They feel that their sweat and labor count for nothing. This generates frustration and alienation. A tangible commitment, such as the LG’s parcel train program, sends a good message. It indicates that the administration cares for growers and is concerned about their well-being.

Critics may argue that the railway cannot handle such a load immediately. But solutions exist. Special apple parcel trains can run during the harvest season, from September to November. Smaller cargo can continue throughout the year. Coordination between the Horticulture Department, Fruit Growers’ Associations, and Indian Railways can iron out the logistics. If other states can move perishable goods by rail, Kashmir can too.

The Valley has already experienced how improved infrastructure improves lives. Highway tunnels such as Chenani-Nashri and Banihal-Qazigund have cut travel time and facilitated connectivity. The same can be achieved with railways. As soon as parcel trains become the norm, the fear of highway closures will fade. Farmers will schedule their harvests with confidence, sure that their produce has a safe passage.

Kashmir is famous throughout the nation as India’s orchard. Its apples are among the world’s best. But the farmer who cares for an apple for months is entitled to a system by which the fruit comes to the consumer in no time. The first step has been initiated by the LG’s initiative. Now what is required is a decision to make these parcel trains regular and sure.

The future of millions depends on this step. Regular parcel services will not just save the Kashmiri apple industry. They will give it a new chance to thrive. They will turn uncertainty into stability and despair into hope. With the LG’s vision and government support, this solution is within reach. It must be carried forward without delay.