Maruti Suzuki Rails Cars to Kashmir: A Logistics First!
In a groundbreaking move for India’s auto sector, Maruti Suzuki has become the nation’s first carmaker to dispatch vehicles to the Kashmir Valley by rail, arriving at the new Anantnag terminal this week. Over 100 units of popular models like the Brezza, Dzire, WagonR, and S-Presso rolled in after a 850-km journey from the company’s Manesar plant, crossing the iconic Chenab Bridge—the world’s highest railway arch. This milestone, tied to the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, promises faster deliveries and greener transport amid booming demand in the region.
The maiden shipment departed from Maruti’s newly inaugurated in-plant railway siding at Manesar, Haryana, leveraging Indian Railways’ expanded network to slash logistics hurdles that once plagued Kashmir-bound deliveries. “Railway dispatches are central to our logistics strategy,” said Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki. “The Chenab Bridge is a landmark, enabling seamless connectivity to the Kashmir Valley and allowing us to better serve customers there.” Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw hailed the feat, noting, “Apples from the valley were already transported by this rail link—now Maruti Suzuki cars will reach the region efficiently. This line is a game-changer for Jammu & Kashmir.”
This rail breakthrough builds on Maruti’s long-standing push for sustainable logistics, aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. The company operates two in-plant sidings—at Manesar and Gujarat—for direct factory-to-destination hauls, having moved over 2.6 million vehicles by rail since 2014-15. As India’s top automaker, Maruti has pioneered eco-friendly practices, earning the first Automobile Freight Train Operator (AFTO) license in 2013. Rail transport cuts carbon emissions and eases road congestion, especially vital for Kashmir’s rugged terrain where deliveries previously relied on costly, time-intensive trucking.
For Kashmir’s auto market, this spells quicker access to affordable rides amid rising incomes and infrastructure upgrades. Dealerships report surging interest in Maruti’s lineup, with the Brezza SUV leading sales in the Valley’s growing urban pockets. The USBRL, fully operational since early 2025, not only boosts passenger links but also freight like this, following apple exports that stabilized local farmers’ incomes. Experts see it setting a template for rivals like Hyundai and Tata to follow, potentially transforming supply chains across remote Indian frontiers.
As US News Today spotlights global infrastructure wins, Maruti’s rail leap echoes America’s freight rail revamps for efficiency and emissions cuts—think Breaking News USA on supply chain innovations. In this America Updates on worldwide mobility, it could inspire cross-border ties, like Suzuki’s U.S. ventures with Toyota. Will more carmakers hop aboard? For Kashmir drivers, the wait’s over—rev up for a connected future.