23 High-Value Exotic Bulls Safely Transported From Bengaluru to J&K by Parcel Train
In a first-of-its-kind operation, Indian Railways used a dedicated parcel train to move 23 exotic breed bulls.
Indian Railways has completed an unprecedented long-distance livestock transport operation, moving 23 exotic breed bulls from Bengaluru in Karnataka to the Kashmir Valley in what officials are calling the first ever livestock parcel train to the region. The service marks a notable expansion of the rail freight network’s capabilities, integrating animal transport into parcel-train logistics across the national rail grid.
The specially arranged parcel train departed Bengaluru earlier this week, traversing several states along the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) before reaching Jammu and Kashmir. Of the total consignment, six bulls were unloaded at the Bari Brahmana Goods Shed near Jammu, while the remaining 17 were delivered at the Budgam Goods Shed in central Kashmir, officials said.
Railway authorities underscored that this livestock transport was conducted under stringent animal welfare standards. Specialised parcel vans equipped with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-compliant chambers were used to minimise stress and ensure the physical wellbeing of the bulls throughout the long journey. Railway officials said the operation demonstrated the network’s capacity to carry live animals safely over extended distances—a function previously unmet by existing parcel services.
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The initiative was undertaken in coordination with the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Department’s Breeding Development Program, reflecting government efforts to improve cattle genetics and bolster the dairy sector’s productivity in the valley. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Jammu, Uchit Singhal, noted that the arrival of high-quality exotic bulls could help enhance local breeds and increase milk output, offering a potential boost to the income of Kashmir’s dairy farmers.
Transporting the bulls by rail also proved more cost-effective and reliable than road haulage, especially given the region’s challenging weather and terrain. Analysts say rail transport’s resilience against seasonal highway closures—which have historically impeded goods movements into Kashmir—could encourage broader adoption of freight services for livestock and other agricultural products.
The livestock parcel train underscores the broader transformation brought by freight rail connectivity to the valley, following recent milestones in linking Kashmir with India’s national cargo network. Railway and agricultural stakeholders say such innovations could unlock new economic opportunities while strengthening supply chain integration for remote regions.
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