Surja Kamal

  N. F. Railway has been taking several initiatives to improve the freight transportation and provide better customer interface. Among such initiatives, some new stations have been opened for handling of both outward & inward goods traffic during the month of June, 2022.    

To improve customer interface and further augment freight transportation, Chongajan station under Lumding division has been opened for handling of both inward & outward Railway Material Consignment (RMC) traffic. In addition, Khongsang station under Lumding division has been opened for handling of outward & inward goods traffic except coal, POL, live stock, explosive and crane consignment.

Moreover, debit/credit scheme of demurrage charge has been introduced in IOCL Refinery Siding at Noonmati, JSW Cement at Ranipatra and at Surja Kamal & Kishanganj goods locations for better turn round of wagons. For development of goods shed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode bid has been received for New Tinsukia & Damdim goods yards. PPP model at goods shed will result in increase freight movement and job creation for local youths with introduction of modern technologies.

Improvement of customer interface and introduction of PPP mode in railways will lead to increase loading and unloading of freight trains. As a result of which earnings of N.F. Railway will increase year after year.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is making all out efforts to enhance freight traffic with a dictum of ‘Hungry for Cargo’. Northeast Frontier Railway has started transportation of maize among other commodities through railway as part of its renewed focus o­n freight loading to capture new stream of traffic. Normally, this traffic used to be transported by roadways. However, the Business Development Units (BDUs) of N. F. Railway worked with traders and transporters to enable the shift for large quantities of maize from roadways to railways.

In a recent development, the BDU team of Katihar division successfully able to bring 45% of maize for transportation through railways where about 1800-2000 tonne of maize per day is transported by roadways. Maize loaded rakes are being transported from Bathnaha, Ranipatra, Surja Kamal, Katihar, Purnia and Dalkhola stations.

N. F. Railway has taken few initiatives to increase the transportation of maize and other commodities in Katihar division. Notification for opening of new goods yards at Araria and Adina stations has been issued for loading of outward domestic traffic. Improvement works of goods yards at Ranipatra and Jalalgarh stations are going o­n; further improvement of goods yards in Katihar, New Jalpaiguri and Purnea stations are also planned.

As a part of the Business Development Units (BDUs) initiatives by Northeast Frontier Railway, meeting with various stake holders are being held regularly. During discussion, theywere informed that they can easily transport their commodities from their nearest convenient railway station at a much cheaper rate in comparison to road sector.These discussions by the BDUs within their respective areas are also helping to find new segment of traffic for movement by train.

N.F. Railway has set up Business Development Units (BDUs) at all the Divisions i.e. Katihar, Alipurduar, Rangiya, Lumding and Tinsukia and also at Zonal Head Quarters level to increase the freight transportation volume. The initiatives by the BDUs of various divisions have been successful in bringing in new mode of traffic to railways from road sector.