Northeast Frontier Railway launches SETU initiative to ensure goods transportation

LOCKDOWN PHASE MOVE

GUWAHATI: To bridge the gap between demand and supply, some officials of the Indian Railways have launched the innovative initiative named ‘SETU’ (Swift and Efficient Transport of Utilities). This has been launched rising to the call for action by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal, during the present COVID-19 crisis.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has already launched a new helpline to facilitate and ease the supply chain backlog that has occurred due to the lockdown. This helpline will enable customers from the States under the jurisdiction of NFR to call up and place their request for transporting the essential commodities and any other industrial items such as PPEs, masks, medicines and other critical items.

The 24 x 7 Helpline number for SETU is 9878899068.

This number is manned by four Trainee Officers who are based at the National Academy of Indian Railways, Vadodara. The team works as a part of the ‘SETU initiative dedicated to NFR. This is a voluntary initiative of these officers to assist the movement of critical goods across the country amid lockdown, stated a release.

The requests received through helpline number and twitter handle will be forwarded to the NFR divisions concerned. The respective divisions will, in turn, check the feasibility of transporting the requested goods and commodities and also inform the SETU team within three hours.

If the transportation is feasible, the SETU team will facilitate the customers in the process. If it is not feasible, the same will be communicated to the customers after getting due confirmation from the division concerned. It is important to note that the SETU team will not provide any assurance to the customer on its own. Calling this helpline and giving the requirements of tonnage to be moved will be subject to the feasibility of movement by rail from the nearest railhead.

The ‘SETU’ initiative is already gaining momentum across the country along with the existing 138 helpline number; and it is highly pertinent to take it up to serve NFR also. This initiative will go a long way in serving the people of the nation in times of distress.

The NFR has already nominated officials to supervise the functioning of SETU helpline and monitor the movement of Parcel Trains alongside the existing Railway Helpline numbers 138 and 139 with regard to movement of ‘Parcel-special’ or COVID-special trains in their jurisdiction. They will also provide assistance and disseminate relevant information including timing, expected freight, days of run, capacity and procedure for booking of parcel etc., to the railway customers. The phone numbers are: Katihar Division – Divisional Commercial Manager / Katihar – 9771441951(M); Alipurduar Division – Divisional Commercial Manager / Alipurduar – 9002052951(M); Rangiya Division – Divisional Commercial Manager / Rangiya –9957554951(M); Guwahati & Lumding Division –Asst Commercial Manager / Guwahati – 9957553954(M), or Asst Commercial Manager / Lumding-9957553953(M); Tinsukia Division -Asst Commercial Manager / Tinsukia Division –9957555952; HQ Area – Asst Commercial Manager /Claims/HQ – 99575-50964(M), the release added.

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