GUWAHATI: Fulfilling its commitment to ensure availability of important raw material and fuel through its freight train services to meet the requirements of the power, transport and key infrastructure sectors during the nationwide lockdown, Indian Railways has transported huge quantity of coal and POL products to every nook and corner of the country.
Due to relentless operations of Railways, all power plants and Petroleum depots have comfortable stock with them inspite of COVID-19 related lock down.
During this critical situation, Indian Railways staff deployed at various good sheds, stations, tracks and control offices apart from drivers, guards etc continued working with full devotion to ensure that the supply of essential items for these critical sectors does not get affected.
During the lockdown period from March 23 to April 3, Indian Railways loaded and carried 2,50,020 wagons of coal, and 17,742 wagons of petroleum products (One wagon carries about 58-60 tons of goods). NFR also carried more than 2000 wagons of coal and 1600 Wagons of POL products during this period.
An emergency freight movement control centre is working in the Ministry of Railways, to monitor the uninterrupted movement of materials for fuelling the power, transport and infrastructure sectors and other essential commodities all over Indian Railways. Issues which were earlier being faced by Railways at many terminal points for loading and unloading operations are being effectively resolved. Indian Railways along with Ministry of Home affairs are in touch with various State Governments to sort out any such operational issue whenever such need arises. Movement of freight trains are being closely monitored by officials at very senior level during this lockdown period to ensure that there is no scarcity.
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