SRINAGAR, October 2025 — The recent operationalisation of freight train services into the Kashmir Valley marks a significant milestone in the long-running effort to connect the region with India’s national railway network. As part of the USBRL project, a landmark freight service arrived on 9 August 2025 when a rake of 21 cement-loaded wagons reached Anantnag in under 18 hours.

This freight link is already reshaping logistics for the Valley by providing a more reliable and competitive alternative to road transport, especially during winter when the Banihal highway is disrupted. The new route is expected to reduce transportation costs and transit times for bulk commodities such as cement, steel and foodgrains, supporting local businesses and improving year-round supply chains.

For example, local dealers expect that improved rail connectivity will ease stock access, reduce reliance on road haulage, and thus contribute to more stable pricing. Meanwhile, officials say that every ton of goods delivered by rail rather than a road convoy saves time, fuel and lowers logistics risk.

Beyond the direct commercial benefits, the freight link helps integrate Kashmir’s economy more deeply with the national system promoting trade, improving resilience of supply chains, and offering a structural boost to the region’s economic outlook. Infrastructure development such as this underscores the transformative power of connecting challenging geographies via modern rail networks.

Source: Deccan Herald