Maruti Suzuki India Limited has become the first automobile manufacturer in India to transport vehicles to Kashmir valley by rail, with the inaugural shipment arriving at Anantnag railway terminal on Friday.
The first train, carrying over 100 vehicles including models such as Brezza, Dzire, WagonR, and S-Presso, departed from the company's Manesar in-plant railway siding and traveled approximately 850 kilometers to reach the destination in Jammu & Kashmir.
The route includes passage over the Chenab river railway arch bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, which was inaugurated earlier this year. The bridge forms part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, designed to improve regional connectivity and logistics efficiency in the area.
Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the significance of the rail link, noting that it has already been used to transport apples from the valley and will now facilitate automobile distribution. "Jammu – Srinagar railway line is a game changer for the people of Jammu & Kashmir," he stated.
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, described railway dispatches as central to the company's logistics strategy. He credited infrastructure development under the current administration for enabling the expanded connectivity. "The world's highest railway arch bridge over Chenab river is one such landmark, enabling seamless and efficient connectivity to Kashmir valley," Takeuchi said.
The automaker operates two in-plant railway sidings at its Manesar and Gujarat manufacturing facilities, aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. These sidings allow direct vehicle movement from production facilities to various parts of the country.
Maruti Suzuki received an AFTO (Approved Freight Transport Operator) license in 2013, becoming the first automobile company to do so. Since the 2014-15 fiscal year, the company has dispatched more than 2.6 million vehicles via Indian Railways, a move aimed at reducing carbon emissions and alleviating road congestion.