Northeast Frontier Railway starts new cargo train for NE region

GUWAHATI: The Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway, as part of its Business Development Unit (BDU) initiatives, from Saturday started operation of a leased Parcel Cargo Express Train (PCET) from Assam to Goa carrying ready-made garments, tea, bamboo products and other handicrafts, spices, edible oil.

In another important step, NF Railway has also started operation of goods trains from other states of India to the Rani Gaidinliu Station at Tamenglong in Manipur.

Officials said that the first goods train reached Rani Gaidinliu Station carrying 53 wagons of ballast needed for the under construction Jiribam-Imphal (111 km) new railway line.

Rani Gaidinliu Station is 24 km away from Jiribam (along the Manipur-Assam border) by rail and is situated by the side of river Makru over which a giant rail bridge has been constructed.

More goods trains carrying other items, including essential commodities, will be arriving soon, providing a boost to the local economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) Minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday expressed their confidence that the connectivity of the Northeastern region would be further boosted.

Modi tweeted: "Transformation of the North-East continues. Manipur's connectivity will be enhanced and commerce will be boosted. Wonderful products from the State can travel all over the nation."

Reddy said in his tweet: "Historic day for Manipur and entire North-East, after 75 years of India's Independence, first goods train reaches Rani Gaidinliu Railway Station, Tamenglong in Manipur. The Narendra Modi Government is committed to enhancing infrastructure connectivity and economic prosperity in the NER."

NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Guneet Kaur said that the first leased Parcel Cargo Express Train (PCET) carrying food products, ready-made garments, tea, bamboo products and other handicrafts, spices, edible oil, mosquito repellants on Saturday started from Azara (Guwahati) to Vasco-da-Gama in Goa.

The cargo express train would reach its destination in 87 hours, covering a distance of 3,358 kms between Azara and Vasco-da-Gama via Siliguri, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Hubli with loading and unloading facilities. The train, which would operate on round trip basis, consists of 15 van parcels of 24 tonne capacity each and one brake van for the first six months and a total of 20 parcel vans thereafter up to next 6 years.

"This new route would not only strengthen the connectivity between the Northeastern States with the south and western States of India, but also act as a catalyst for business growth. It would act as an efficient and reliable time-bound solution to the supply chain needs of eastern India. It will bring a boom to the industrial and agricultural sector across the eastern region," the CPRO said.

Meanwhile, a press release stated that NF Railway has decided to run two Kisan Rail trains from Jalpaiguri and Dhupguri in West Bengal to Agartala in Tripura for transportation of potatoes with stoppages en route for loading/unloading.

Among these services, train No. 00571 Jalpaiguri-Agartala Kisan Rail will run on January 30, February 6, 13 and 27, leaving Jalpaiguri at 2 pm to reach Agartala at 3 am on the third day. The train will have stoppages at Raninagar Jalpaiguri, New Coochbehar, New Bongaigaon and Guwahati stations. Another train No. 00560 Dhupguri-Agartala Kisan Rail will run on February 4, 11, 18 and 25, leaving Dhupguri at 5pm to reach Agartala at 4 am on the third day. The train will have stoppages at New Coochbehar, New Bongaigaon and Guwahati stations.

It may be mentioned here that perishable items like fruits and vegetables and agro-products can be easily transported through Kisan Rail. A subsidy of 50% in freight, which is borne by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), is being granted on transportation of fruits and vegetables through Kisan Rail services. Presently, destinations like Agartala, Dimapur, Changsari, New Guwahati, Jorhat Town, Azara and Tinsukia are being covered by 'Kisan Rail' in NF Railway. For detailed information regarding Kisan Rail services, one can contact officials of concerned commercial department either at divisional levels or at Headquarters level. (IANS)

Also Read: Northeast Frontier Railway General Manager Ansul Gupta visits Biswanath

Also watch: