Srinagar, Oct. 21 -- Rail-linked storage facilities are being introduced in Kashmir to change the way produce is moved to markets. For years, orchardists and saffron growers have faced losses due to poor preservation and high transport costs. By placing storage directly at railway points, perishable goods can be consolidated, preserved, and dispatched with reduced handling and wastage. The earlier step near Jammu set the precedent, and now the expansion into the Valley signals a deliberate effort to build a logistics backbone that connects production zones with national demand centres.

The freight concession scheme on parcel trains adds another layer to this plan and by lowering costs for traders who book return trips in advance, the rai...