NAGARSOL

A major milestone in the freight movement of Nanded Division was achieved today, i.e., o­n 11th February 2021, when the 50th Kisan Rail from Nagarsol station in the state of Maharashtra has been started, o­nce again proving the commitment of South Central Railway in boosting the agricultural sector by giving top priority for transportation of agricultural products through Railways. Importantly, this has been achieved in a short span of 38 days period since the start of the first Kisan Rail from Nagarsol o­n 05th January, 2021, wherein 50 Kisan Rails with o­nions have been loaded to the Eastern and North Eastern states benefitting the traders/farmers for smooth and hassle-free transportation to the farthest places, which otherwise would have been cumbersome exercise for transporting the same in other modes. All these Kisan rails have been given 50% tariff concession under the scheme “Operation Greens - TOP to Total” by Union Ministry of Food processing Industries facilitating economical transport facility with less enroute damage.

Nagarsol and its surrounding areas are very famous for o­nion cultivation and they are transported to different parts of the country with major share by roadways. Traders and farmers were facing lot of difficulties due to abnormal delay and enroute losses by road transport. The freight Team of the Nanded Division got in touch with the farmers/trading community making them aware of the ease benefits of loading their produce by Kisan rails in terms of relatively less requirement of quantity to start a train, tariff advantages, hassle-free and fast transportation among others.

Accordingly, Kisan Rails with o­nions are being loaded and transported to farthest places in Eastern and North Eastern states viz., New Guwahati, New Guwahati, Malda Town, New Jalpaiguri Agartala, Baihata, Gour Malda, Naugachia, Chitpur, Sankrail Goods Terminal and Fatuha among others for getting relatively higher price. The Kisan Rails usually consist of 10 to 12 parcel vans (VPs), each VP with carrying capacity of 23 tonnes. This has helped the farmers/ traders in loading their commodities in a small to medium quantities with ease and convenience. A small group of farmers/traders can easily plan to load the commodity to their required destination, which is a win -win situation to both customers as well as Railways.

Shri Gajanan Mallya, General Manager, South Central Railway has expressed his happiness o­n loading of 50 Kisan Rails in a very shorter period. The efforts of Nanded Division Officials which helped in operation of Kisan Rail o­n uninterrupted basis has been praised by the General Manger. He stated that he is very glad that Zone is very much helpful in providing the taste of Maharashtra o­nions to the people of North Eastern states. He conveyed special thanks to the farmers/traders for associating with Railways and complimented them for transporting 50 Kisan Rails in a short span.

- The first train has been loaded from Nagarsol in Nanded Division to Guwahati

- 50% Tariff Concession granted for transporting through Railways

South Central Railway has taken another significant step in its continuous endeavour to assist the farm sector in marketing its agricultural produce for better price realisation. In this regard, today, SCR starts its first Kisan rail from Maharashtra. The initial rake loaded with o­nions will start from Nagarsol in Nanded Division to Guwahati. Incidentally, this is also the first Kisan Rail from the Nanded Division.

The Govt. of India has started the concept of running Kisan Rails for boosting the income of the farm sector, while providing a hassle-free, safe & fast transport services for the marketing of the Agriculture sector. To further encourage the farmers, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries announced extension of 50% tariff concession o­n the transportation of notified fruits and vegetables through Kisan Rail trains, under “Operation Greens - TOP to Total”. Accordingly, SCR’s first Kisan rail from Maharashtra was also given 50% tariff concession for transporting o­nions under this program.

Previously, o­nions loading used to happen occasionally from Nagarsol station through Goods trains. However, to transport this commodity by Goods trains, the farmers/traders had to procure the commodity in huge quantities so as to be able to meet full train load capacity. This combined with the logistics involved in stocking huge quantities and posed a tedious challenge for the freight customers.

To overcome these, the freight Team of the Nanded Division conducted regular meetings with the farmers/trading community making them aware of the ease benefits of loading their produce by Kisan rails in terms of relatively less requirement of quantity to start a train, tariff advantages, hassle-free and fast transportation among others. All of these continuous marketing efforts have led to the starting of first Kisan Rail, with the farmers/traders showing interest of loading more number of trains through this facility.

The first Kisan Rail of Nanded Division has been scheduled to leave Nagarsol station at 17.30 hrs of today i.e., 5th January, 2021 with 22 Parcel vans each with capacity of 23 tonnes. The train will reach New Guwahati Goods complex at 21.00 hrs of 7th January, 2021 with a load of around 522 tonnes of o­nions covering the distance of 2500 Kms in a short span of 50 hours.

Shri Gajanan Mallya, General Manager, South Central Railway has expressed his happiness o­n the efforts of Nanded Division Officials which helped in operation of Kisan Rail successfully from Nagarsol station. He also appealed to the farmers and traders to utilise this opportunity of Kisan Rail specials for availing special concessions and facilities being offered by Railways, so that it will increase their scope of business, while enhancing the freight traffic of the Zone.