Northern Railway has invited tenders to develop warehouses near Anantnag and Pampore railway stations in Kashmir to improve storage facilities, strengthen freight transportation and help local produce reach major markets faster. The proposed facilities are expected to benefit apple growers and saffron traders by providing storage infrastructure close to railway stations, reducing loading and unloading costs and minimising post-harvest losses. The Jammu railway division has invited private investors to develop and operate the warehouses under the Railways' Cargo Related Facility (CRF) policy. The facilities will be offered on a lease period of 25 years, officials said.
With the proposed projects, Jammu and Kashmir will have three such warehouse facilities, including one planned at Bari Brahmana on the outskirts of Jammu city.
Indian Railways warehouse projects in Kashmir: Locations and lease period
The two new projects are planned near Anantnag and Pampore railway stations, areas that serve important agricultural and commercial activities in the Kashmir Valley.
Under the CRF policy, private investors will be responsible for developing and operating the proposed facilities for 25 years. The tenders have been made available on the Indian Railways E-Procurement System (IREPS) portal, officials said.
The projects aim to improve the movement of goods by integrating storage infrastructure with rail transportation, offering traders and producers another option for moving their products to markets beyond the region.
Apple growers and saffron traders to benefit from better storage
The proposed warehouses are expected to support Kashmir's horticulture and agricultural trade, particularly apple growers and saffron traders who need efficient storage and transportation facilities.
Locating warehouses close to railway stations could help reduce the cost and time involved in moving produce between farms, storage points and freight services. Better handling facilities may also help minimise losses, particularly for perishable agricultural products.
The Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, Uchit Singhal, said the initiative would strengthen freight transportation and improve storage facilities for perishable agricultural produce.
The projects are also expected to create employment opportunities and support commercial activity linked to the region's logistics network.
Bari Brahmana warehouse project invited under CRF policy
On October 13, the Jammu railway division invited tenders for developing a modern warehouse and storage facility at Bari Brahmana, near Jammu city.
The project was the first such warehouse initiative under the CRF policy in the division, officials said.
The proposed facilities at Bari Brahmana, Anantnag and Pampore are expected to expand the region's storage and freight-handling infrastructure, connecting agricultural production centres more efficiently with railway transportation.
By encouraging private investment in railway-linked warehousing, Northern Railway aims to strengthen logistics facilities and improve the movement of local produce to major markets.
Inputs from agencies