Anantnag, October 3, 2025 – In a groundbreaking development for India’s automotive logistics and regional connectivity, Maruti Suzuki India Limited has become the nation’s first car manufacturer to transport vehicles to the Kashmir Valley via Indian Railways. The maiden freight train, carrying over 100 passenger cars, arrived at the newly inaugurated Anantnag railway terminal in Jammu & Kashmir today, marking the first time personal vehicles have been “driven down” from rail racks in the region.The consignment, comprising popular models such as the Brezza, Dzire, WagonR, and S-Presso, departed from Maruti Suzuki’s in-plant railway siding at its Manesar facility in Haryana. Covering approximately 850 kilometers, the train traversed the challenging Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, including the iconic Chenab Rail Bridge – the world’s highest railway arch bridge, standing at 359 meters above the riverbed. Inaugurated earlier this year, the bridge symbolizes a new era of seamless integration for the Kashmir Valley with the Indian mainland.”This rail-based initiative is expected to improve delivery efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and enhance regional connectivity, setting a precedent for automakers in India,” said Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki India. The company highlighted that since FY2014-15, it has transported over 2.6 million vehicles via Indian Railways, contributing to lower carbon emissions and reduced road congestion. In FY2024-25 alone, Maruti dispatched 5.18 lakh vehicles by rail, accounting for nearly a quarter of its total shipments.Union Minister for Railways, Ashwani Vaishnaw, commended the move as a “game changer” for the region’s economy.
“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. We are grateful to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, under whose leadership, transformative infrastructure projects have come up across the country,” Vaishnaw stated during the event.Eyewitness reports from Anantnag Railway Station captured the excitement as workers unloaded the first car from the specialized auto rack, a moment described as historic in Kashmir’s automobile landscape. Local media outlets, including Kashmir Life and The Kashpost, shared live footage of the unloading process, emphasizing its significance for faster and more reliable vehicle deliveries to dealers and customers in the Valley.This achievement builds on the USBRL project’s completion, which faced decades of delays due to the region’s rugged terrain and security challenges.
The full 272-km line now connects Kashmir to the national rail network, boosting trade, tourism, and everyday logistics. However, while celebrated as an engineering marvel, the project has drawn mixed reactions locally, with some viewing it as a step toward economic empowerment and others critiquing it as part of broader infrastructure integration efforts.Maruti Suzuki anticipates this rail corridor will streamline supplies, enabling quicker access to affordable mobility for Kashmiri consumers amid rising demand. Industry experts predict other automakers will soon follow suit, potentially revolutionizing vehicle distribution in northern India.
