Establishing close coordination with cherry fruit growers in Jammu & Kashmir, the Jammu Division of Northern Railway has successfully booked requisitions for 28 parcel vans for the transportation of cherries to Bandra Terminus during the 2026 season. Each parcel van has a capacity of 23 tons. Currently, the processing of these parcel van requisitions for cherries is underway. This represents an increase of approximately 100% compared to the previous season. All 28 requisitions have been duly registered by the users. These requisitions for Bandra Terminus are primarily intended for the cherry season, spanning from May 25 to July 10, for consignments originating from Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. Elaborating on the details of this unique initiative: There are 7 requisitions for consignments to be loaded from Jammu to Bandra Terminus. There are 21 requisitions for consignments to be loaded from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Bandra Terminus. It is noteworthy that previously, in the year 2025, approximately 14 parcel vans of cherries were transported from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Bandra Terminus via Train No. 12472.This, in itself, marked a historic initiative. This initiative by Indian Railways underscores its commitment to providing the horticulturists of Kashmir with a reliable and efficient means to safely and timely transport their perishable produce to distant markets. Shri Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, stated, "The year 2026 is set to be another historic year for the Jammu Division. Our continuous dialogue and coordination with fruit growers in Kashmir are yielding consistently successful results. We have registered 28 indents for Bandra Terminus for the current cherry season—a figure that represents a remarkable increase compared to last year.

Our primary objective was to provide the horticulturists of Kashmir with a safe and rapid mode of transport, free from the uncertainties associated with road travel. This service will run directly from Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Bandra Terminus. The Railways is committed not only to reducing freight costs but also to ensuring that perishable fruits, such as cherries, reach their destination within 30–33 hours while retaining their absolute freshness. This initiative is poised to prove a milestone in the economic progress of the farmers in the Valley."