Uchit Singhal, Shally
Since its inception on 9th August 2025, during the past 12 days, almost 10 rakes of cement comprising of around 21 BCN wagons each have been successfully dealt at this first railway goods shed in the valley. Almost 13,778 ton cement has been transported to Anantnag for utilisation in the multiple different projects going on in valley and beyond in these rakes.
The successful handling of these freight rakes at Anantnag has not only eased the congestion on the road but have improved the truck availability saving the turnaround time and provided a sustained means of employment for the people.
Apart from the direct benefits causing faster pace of the developmental projects in the region, the new goods shed will boost all the three sectors of the economy of J&K viz agricultural, industrial as well as services sector including construction.
It is a well known fact that railways is significantly greener and sustainable means of transport as compared to other modes. This much bulk transport of cement that too with reduced road risks, reduced fuel consumption and pollution and reduced transit times as well as cost will directly benefit the trade, industry and construction activities going on in the region including the various developmental and infrastructural projects.
Anantnag goods shed is the first among the three rail head goods sheds that are being developed by the railways in the valley for improving the trade and connectivity of the region. The other two goods sheds in pipeline are at Pampore and Sopore. With the coming of these strategically planned goods sheds, all the three regions of Kashmir viz North, Central as well as South Kashmir will get served by the Railways goods sheds. Over time these goods sheds shall provide not only for the inward traffic like cement, foodgrains, fertilisers etc but will also cater to the outward traffic including fruits/perishables, handicrafts and even minerals like gypsum etc. This will further boost the agro-industrial development of the region and thereby acting as a growth catalyst, will play a vital role in furthering the socio-economic progress of the region.
With the connections that the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat has already offered to the tourists, traders and people from all walks of life and now the benefits that have come with the successful operationalization of Anantnag goods shed, whole gamut of opportunities that will open for the region will be unprecedented. Another positive step has been taken in this direction with the approval that has been recently granted to the Budgam-Adarsh Nagar parcel special with enroute stoppage at Bari Brahmana which will have a lasting impact on the logistics sector and supply chain management of the region. With the various concessions that have come along like the waiver of minimum turnover criteria or the reduction in one time registration fees especially for the outward traffic from J&K, it will serve as an opportunity for even the small and medium farmers/cooperatives/association to get directly associated with the Railways to transport their horticultural produce from Kashmir valley to other regions of the country.
With the pottential that railways offers and the quantum of traffic (both freight and passenger) that it can carry, there is no denying the fact that the welfare and growth opportunities that Railways is and will continue to offer to J&K will be matchless.
(The authors are an IRTS officer posted in Jammu division of Northern Railways as Senior Divisional Commercial Manager and Shally, a Ph.D. holder in Economics from Kurukshetra University)
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