FCI foodgrain freight train reaches Kashmir for the first time

Kashmir was formally connected to India’s national freight rail network on Sunday with the arrival of the first-ever foodgrain freight train at the Anantnag Goods Terminal in south Kashmir.

Operated by Indian Railways for the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the rake carried about 1,384 tonnes of rice loaded in 21 BCN wagons. The train was dispatched from Ajitwal railway station and reached Anantnag without interruption, officials confirmed.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha hailed the milestone, calling it the fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration to integrate the Valley with the country’s freight rail system. He said the development would strengthen food security and logistics resilience in the region.

Northern Railway’s Jammu division said the new rail link would ensure a more dependable and continuous supply of foodgrains to Kashmir, especially to remote and difficult-to-access areas. Rail transport is expected to improve the movement of buffer stocks while lowering logistics costs and reducing dependence on road transport.

Officials said the commissioning of the Anantnag Goods Terminal marks the beginning of regular freight operations in the Valley. Beyond foodgrains, the facility is expected to support the movement of other essential commodities, stimulate local markets, and generate new opportunities in logistics and allied sectors.

The milestone is seen as a key step in expanding rail-based freight connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir and integrating the region more closely with national supply chains.