Anantnag / New Delhi: In a historic move that blends steel tracks with four wheels, Maruti Suzuki India Limited has become the first automobile manufacturer in the country to dispatch vehicles to the Kashmir Valley by rail. The inaugural train, carrying over 100 vehicles including Brezza, Dzire, WagonR and S-Presso, has rolled into the newly opened Anantnag railway terminal — marking a milestone for both the company and Indian Railways.
The journey began at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar manufacturing facility, where the maiden train departed from the company’s recently inaugurated in-plant railway siding. After traversing more than 850 km and making a cinematic crossing over the world’s highest railway arch bridge on the Chenab River, the train arrived in Anantnag — signalling the start of a new logistics chapter.
Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, noted,
“In recent times, apples from the valley have been transported using the Jammu & Kashmir rail link. Now, Maruti Suzuki cars will be transported to Kashmir valley by rail. The Jammu–Srinagar railway line is a game changer for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.”
Echoing this sentiment, Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said,
“Railway dispatches are central to our logistics strategy. We are grateful to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, under whose leadership transformative infrastructure projects like the Chenab Arch Bridge have come up. This enables us to serve customers in Kashmir more efficiently than ever before.”
Aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, Maruti Suzuki operates two in-plant railway sidings at Manesar and Gujarat, allowing direct dispatch of vehicles from its production facilities to various parts of the country — and now, for the first time, all the way to the Kashmir Valley.
This logistical leap is not just about cars on trains — it’s about bringing modern mobility closer to the scenic Himalayas. From apples to automobiles, Kashmir’s railway terminals are fast becoming the new “platform” for growth.
