In a major boost to freight movement in the Kashmir Valley, 1,350 tonnes of industrial salt arrived for the first time by train from Kharaghoda station in the Ahmedabad Division, Gujarat, at Anantnag station in Jammu & Kashmir.
The rake was loaded at Kharaghoda and reached Anantnag, covering a distance of about 2,000 kilometres.
Kharaghoda is a census town and a prominent salt-producing area in the Surendranagar district of Gujarat, located on the border of the Little Rann of Kutch. Kharaghoda salt is renowned for its high purity, with some varieties containing over 98 per cent sodium chloride. Refineries in the area produce both industrial and edible-grade salt.
The consignment will be used in the chemical industry to produce caustic soda, soda ash,
chlorine, and hydrochloric acid; in the soap industry as a stabiliser and thickening agent in soap and detergent manufacturing; in the leather industry for curing and preserving hides before tanning; in brick kilns to help regulate temperature and improve brick-firing quality; in food processing in refined form for preservation and water softening; for de-icing to sprinkle on roads and tracks to melt snow and ice; for water treatment to removes hardness by eliminating calcium and magnesium ions; as a raw material for saline, dyes, and chemical intermediates in pharmaceuticals & dyes; and in limited quantities for soil treatment and weed control.
The development marks a significant milestone in expanding the use of the rail network for freight operations in Kashmir, reducing transit time, logistics costs, and dependence on road transport.
