JAMMU: In a first for the Jammu railway division, a cement consignment has been transported by rail from one station in the Union Territory to another, marking a significant development in internal freight movement in Jammu and Kashmir.
Railway officials said the first consignment was dispatched on Monday from Shaheed Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Railway Station in Kathua to the Anantnag goods shed following efforts by the Business Development Unit (BDU) of the Jammu division.
The consignment comprised about 66 tonnes of cement, or nearly 1,320 bags, loaded in a BCN freight wagon. It was booked by Ganpati Cement, Kathua.
Officials said this was the first time cement had been transported as internal freight within the Jammu division. Previously, cement destined for the Kashmir Valley was largely moved by road.
The new rail link for cement transportation is expected to provide a more economical, safer and faster mode of transport for construction material while also contributing to freight revenue and reducing dependence on road transport.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said the development represented a milestone in freight operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
He noted that cement had earlier been handled only as inward freight traffic at major railway facilities such as Kathua and Anantnag. The successful commencement of outward cement loading from Kathua reflected the division’s efforts to expand freight services, he said.
Singhal added that the initiative demonstrated increasing confidence among industrial and business stakeholders in the railway network and could help stimulate economic activity in the region.
According to railway officials, the Jammu division plans to engage more traders and industries to promote railways as a cost-effective, reliable and environmentally sustainable transportation option.
