Maruti Suzuki becomes first automaker to transport vehicles to Kashmir by rail

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has become the country’s first automobile manufacturer to move vehicles into Jammu & Kashmir via the Indian Railways, marking a milestone in green logistics and regional connectivity.

The company announced that its inaugural rail consignment—comprising more than 100 cars, including popular models such as the Brezza, Dzire, WagonR, and S-Presso—arrived at the newly operational Anantnag terminal. The shipment originated from MSIL’s in-plant siding at Manesar and traveled over 850 km, crossing the Chenab River on the world’s highest railway arch bridge, a centerpiece of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.

Maruti Suzuki’s Managing Director and CEO, Hisashi Takeuchi, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for spearheading transformative infrastructure projects, saying the new rail access would strengthen the company’s supply chain in Kashmir.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also welcomed the development, noting that apples from the valley are already moving by train and now Maruti Suzuki vehicles will join them. He described the Jammu–Srinagar railway line as a “game changer” for the region’s economy and logistics.

The achievement comes against the backdrop of strong sales momentum for MSIL. In September, the automaker reported total sales of 189,665 units, including 135,711 units in the domestic market, 11,750 units supplied to other OEMs, and record exports of 42,204 units. Festive demand has also been robust, with 165,000 vehicles delivered in the first eight days of Navratri following recent GST rationalisation measures that boosted customer sentiment.