Kashmir’s Apples Reach Mumbai In 30 Hours As Chenab Rail Link Opens New Trade Opportunities

Mumbai, October 10, 2026: The opening of the Chenab Rail Link, inaugurated on June 6, 2025, has revolutionized Kashmir's fruit trade with Mumbai. A recent shipment of 24 tonnes of cherries traveled from Katra to Bandra in just 30 hours, highlighting the rail link's potential to reduce transportation time and costs for perishable goods between Kashmir and Maharashtra.

Since September 15, 2025, over 20,000 tonnes of apples have been transported by rail, with a new Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) between Budgam and Adarsh Nagar in Delhi established on September 13. The faster movement of perishable items is crucial as they can lose value if delayed. Consequently, the shift from road to rail has lowered freight costs by 50–60% and reduced spoilage by around 50%.

For Mumbai's fruit traders, these improvements mean more predictable deliveries and better management of perishable stock. The rail corridor also facilitates the movement of other products such as Kashmir's walnuts, saffron, carpets, and shawls, while benefiting Mumbai by providing cheaper supplies. Moreover, over 1.5 lakh tonnes of cement have been transported to Kashmir since August 9, 2025, with prices dropping from Rs 520–530 per bag to Rs 460–470 per bag.

For Mumbai's logistics companies and traders, the rail link presents an opportunity to build reliable supply chains connecting Maharashtra's markets with Kashmir's agricultural and handicraft sectors. The Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, marks a significant milestone in connecting Kashmir with the national railway network and providing an alternative to the National Highway 44, which is vulnerable to landslides and weather-related disruptions.