ANANTNAG: Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat on Wednesday reviewed the operationalisation and use of railway goods services for transporting horticulture produce from the district to markets outside Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting, held at the DC Office, brought together officials from the district administration, horticulture and revenue departments, railway authorities, fruit associations and transporters to discuss the availability of rail freight services and arrangements required for their effective use.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned departments, railway officials, fruit associations and transporters to coordinate on operational and logistical issues to facilitate the movement of fruit during the harvesting season.
Officials informed the meeting that horticulture is a key component of Anantnag’s economy, with around 32,381 hectares of land under horticulture and annual fruit production estimated at approximately three lakh metric tonnes. Given the volume of produce, participants discussed the potential of railway goods services as an additional mode of transportation to outside markets.
The meeting also reviewed the operational modalities and logistical requirements for using the railway service, including coordination between fruit growers, traders, transporters and railway authorities.
Jablipora, Ashijipora and Batengoo were identified as three major fruit mandis in the district, serving as collection, marketing and distribution centres for horticulture produce.
The participants discussed the use of rail freight as an alternative transportation option, particularly during the peak harvesting period, with the aim of improving market connectivity and providing growers and traders with another transportation channel.
The Deputy Commissioner directed all stakeholders to take the necessary measures for effective utilisation of the railway goods service and to address logistical issues that could affect the timely movement of horticulture produce.
