Srinagar, Dec. 22 -- This is a moment of pride for the Railways, said Northern Railways senior divisional commercial manager Uchit Singhal, hours after the first grain-laden freight train of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) arrived in Kashmir on Sunday, marking a key logistical milestone. The FCI train, comprising of 21 BCN wagons with 1,384 tonnes of rice, had departed from the Ajitwal Goods Shed in Punjab's Firozpur on Saturday, and arrived at the Anantnag Goods Terminal in South Kashmir on Sunday. Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha termed the occasion "memorable", saying: "This is undoubtedly a very memorable occasion and realises our long-cherished dream of connecting the Kashmir region to the national freight network." "This marks a historic day for the people of the Kashmir Valley, as the Railways and the Food Corporation of India have jointly initiated this food grain freight train service to Kashmir," said Raghvender Singh, public relations officer (PRO), Northern Railways. "This is a significant step towards strengthening the food supply chain and promoting economic development in the future." The freight train's arrival is a notable development as it offers an alternative supply route to people in the Valley, who often witness the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway during bad weather. Depending on the weather, the closure continues for days, sometimes extending for weeks in winters. It is also a faster option. Officials said the same amount of goods, which would have required 55-57 trucks, could be transported via road in 27-28 hours, while the train journey takes around 15-16 hours. "Rail transport facilitates better and more efficient supply chain management of food grains, leading to improved planning and distribution," Singhal said....