Maruti Suzuki India Limited has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first automobile manufacturer in the country to transport vehicles to the Kashmir valley via Indian Railways. The company dispatched its first consignment of over 100 vehicles — including models such as the Brezza, Dzire, WagonR, and S-Presso — from its recently inaugurated in-plant railway siding at Manesar to the newly opened Anantnag railway terminal in Jammu & Kashmir.
The train covered a distance of more than 850 kilometres and traversed the world’s highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River — a landmark structure inaugurated earlier this year as part of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The USBRL is one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure developments aimed at improving regional connectivity and reducing logistics bottlenecks in the Himalayan region.
Emphasising the transformative impact of this milestone, Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, said, “In recent times, apples from the valley have been transported using the Jammu & Kashmir rail link. Now, Maruti Suzuki cars will be transported to the Kashmir valley by rail. The Jammu–Srinagar railway line is a game changer for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.”
Mr. Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, highlighted the strategic importance of this development, stating, “Railway dispatches are central to our logistics strategy. We are grateful to the Prime Minister, under whose leadership transformative infrastructure projects have come up across the country. The world’s highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River is one such landmark, enabling seamless and efficient connectivity to Kashmir valley and allowing Maruti Suzuki to better serve customers in the region.”
He added that the company’s rail-based logistics are aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. “Maruti Suzuki operates two in-plant railway sidings inside its Manesar and Gujarat manufacturing plants. These enable vehicle movement directly from our production facilities to different parts of the country, ensuring faster and more sustainable deliveries,” Mr. Takeuchi said.
