Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir : An 116-car consignment of Maruti Suzuki passenger vehicles from Manesar has reached the Kashmir Valley, marking the first time an automobile rake has been transported to the region by rail. The rake rolled out from the Anantnag Goods Shed on Friday after completing a journey of approximately 850 kilometres in around 45 hours. Local car dealers praised the move and emphasised its advantages for consumers.

Maruti Suzuki Dealer Jamkash Vehicleades Managing Director, Irfan Ahmad said that, "This is a matter of happiness that, for the first time, Maruti Suzuki, one of the biggest car manufacturers in India, has brought an automobile rake to Kashmir. The condition of our roads is very poor, so it is a positive development that cars, which used to be brought here under tough conditions by road, are now being transported by train to Anantnag. This is a matter of happiness for us.”

He further added that “cars that previously had to travel around 300 kilometres by road will now only need to travel about 50 kilometres to reach Srinagar.’

The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link, which connects the Kashmir Valley to India’s national railway network, was fully commissioned in June this year.

Since August 9, a number of goods trains have arrived in Kashmir from different locations and returned with supplies, including fresh fruits, along with the army's winter stock, fruits and other necessities.