In a first, FCI freight train brings 1,384 tonnes of foodgrains to Kashmir

In a first, a Food Corporation of India (FCI) freight train from Punjab reached the Anantnag Goods Terminal in Kashmir on Sunday (December 21, 2025), carrying around 1,384 tonnes of foodgrains. The freight service was started in Kashmir earlier this year.

A spokesman of FCI termed it as “a major milestone for rail-based logistics in the Kashmir Valley” and “formally integrating the region with the national freight rail network”.

The spokesman said the freight rake, carrying approximately 1,384 tonnes of foodgrains loaded in wagons, was dispatched from Punjab’s Ajitwal railway station and successfully arrived at Anantnag Goods Terminal. 

“The movement marks the first instance of bulk foodgrain transportation by rail directly to South Kashmir,” the spokesman said.

The arrival of the freight train is a major step to ensure an uninterrupted and efficient supply of foodgrains to the Valley, particularly to remote and far-flung areas. 

“Rail-based transportation will not only enhance the reliability of buffer stock movement but also reduce transportation costs, making the supply chain faster and more economical,” the spokesman said.

The development will provide a boost to local markets, strengthen the regional agricultural economy, and create new opportunities in logistics and allied sectors. The commissioning of the Anantnag Goods Terminal has opened new avenues for the movement of essential commodities and other goods, paving the way for expanded freight operations in the future, he added.

“The initiative represents a significant step towards improving food security, modernising freight infrastructure, and reinforcing the Valley’s connectivity with the rest of the country through sustainable and efficient rail transport,” the spokesman said.

In September, the first-ever freight train reached the base in the Kashmir valley and ended the geographical isolation for goods exported on the weather-dependent surface transport only.