The first freight train successfully reached Anantnag Goods Shed in the Valley from Rupnagar, Punjab, marking a significant milestone in connecting Kashmir to the national freight network.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the development will enhance both progress and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.“Great day for commerce and connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir! It will enhance both progress and prosperity,” the PM posted on X.The arrival of a freight train, carrying cement, is set to accelerate infrastructure projects and improve living standards for the people of Kashmir.The Valley traders depend on the 271 km long Srinagar-Jammu national highway for transportation of goods. The highway gets closed for days in winter and during rainy days, causing losses to the traders and growers in the Valley.Shopian Fruits Growers and Dealers Association president Mohammad Ashraf Wani said the freight train is good news for the growers in the Valley.Kashmir’s apple industry, which contributes significantly to the local economy, has long struggled with transportation challenges due to closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway due to weather and landslides.“Kashmiri apples will now reach markets across India more promptly and at a lower cost. However, we hope that the freight train connects us directly to the fruit markets (mandis) across the country. If that happens then we no longer will have to live in fear that our apples will rot in trucks stranded on the highway,” he said.The apple growers are now hopeful of a more stable and profitable future.
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