12 Trains from (BIY)BARDOLI to (MID)MADHI

Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India flagged off Train No. 12862 Mahbubnagar – Visakhapatnam Express from Mahbubnagar Railway station today i.e., 20^thMay, 2023 in the august presence of Shri V. Srinivas Goud, Hon’ble Minister for Excise, Prohibition, Sports & Youth Services and Archaeology, Govt. of Telangana; Shri M. Srinivas Reddy, Hon’ble MP, Mahbubnagar; Smt. Swarna Sudhakar Reddy, Hon’ble Chairperson, Zilla Parishad, Mahbubnagar; Shri K.C Narsimlu, Hon’ble Muncipal Chairman, Mahbubnagar; Shri Sharat Chandrayan, Divisional Railway Manager and other Senior Railway officials and public representatives.

 Speaking o­n the occasion, Shri G. Kishan Reddy stated that the new Mahbubnagar – Visakhapatnam Express will connect the people of Palamuru region directly with Kacheguda and beyond including important cities like Kazipet, Warangal, Vijayawada, Eluru etc., He stated that Railway connectivity is very important for the development of any region. He stated that the rail developments in Telangana region has been progressing at a fast pace in the recent years in terms of rail infrastructure, electrification, provision of passenger amenities. Towards improving connectivity, the centre has undertaken doubling of Secunderabad and Mahbubnagar with a cost of Rs. 1400 crore, he said. We will continue to work hard and put all efforts for the all-round development of Telangana region, he added.

 Shri G. Kishan Reddy informed that Mahbubnagar Railway station has been equipped with free Wi-Fi facility. Further, the Hon’ble Union Minister stated that the Secunderabad Railway station is being redeveloped with a cost of Rs. 720 crores and the works are progressing swiftly. The Railway station is being upgraded with modern facilities and amenities o­n par with airports to meet the needs of the passengers, he said. He also informed that Charlapalli Satellite terminal is being developed, which will provide enhanced transport facility to the passengers in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

 The extension of Train No. 12861/12862 Visakhapatnam – Kacheguda – Visakhapatnam Express up to Mahbubnagar will be highly beneficial for the people of the region who will now be able to travel directly to Warangal, Khammam, Rayanapadu (Vijayawada), Eluru, Rajahmundry, Annavaram, Visakhapatnam etc. The train provides comfortable night travel facility from both Mahbubnagar and Visakhapatnam allowing the passengers to reach their destinations conveniently in the morning hours. The train also caters to both reserved and unreserved segment of people with composition of AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper Class and General Coaches.

 Stoppages and timings of Train No. 12862/12861 Mahbubnagar – Visakhapatnam – Mahbubnagar Express are as detailed below:

Indian Railways launches Rail Post Gati Shakti Express Cargo Service (Joint Parcel Product of Railways and India Post)

Collaboration between Indian Railways and India Post is a part of Budget Announcement 2022-23

In the initial phase, services are to start in 15 sectors. Flagging off at 4 locations today

Salient features of this initiative include Door step pickup and delivery, time tabled train service, safe transmission, affordable tariff, single point of contact and mobile application

First time tariff o­n the basis of per Kg of the goods per Kilometre has been determined

Six Parcel trains to Pass through North Central Railway

Indian Railways and India Posts have formally launched Rail Post Gati Shakti Express Cargo Service, Joint Parcel Product of Railways and India Post. It is an initiative of partnership between Indian Railways and India Posts in providing seamless logistics for the services sector in the country. This is in compliance with the Budget Announcement of FY 2022-23. Today it has been started, o­n the four sectors -Delhi to Kolkata; Bangalore to Guwahati, Surat to Muzaffarpur and Hyderabad to Hazrat Nizamuddin.  However, total 15 sectors(mentioned in Annx-A) have been planned to be covered in the first phase.

The highlights of this service are Total logistic Service: Pick-Up and Delivery at customer premises, Palletization -Transportation through covered and sealed boxes, Semi-mechanized handling, Time tabled service, Insurance at 0.05% of the declared value of the cargo for loss, damage and deterioration, Integrated Parcel Way Bill. Joint Marketing Teams between Posts and Railways have been made to take this initiative forward. Doing away with the slab system of pricing is an innovation herein.

Railways and Department of Posts have collectively upgraded their tools, machinery and handling equipment, storage space for optimum use. Specially designed Fold type box, Envelope box, Mesh type Box, Bubble Guard Box made up of aluminium and light weight material have been developed. Similarly, Parcel Aggregation Centre have been equipped with conveyor system alongwith specially designed rakes for efficient stacking. BTU Deck where palatized material can be easily rolled are provided for effortless movement.

Salient Features for Customers:

1. Door step Pick-Up and Delivery: India Post will pick up the consignment at the doorstep of the customer and transport to the Railway Station (first mile activity) and at the destination railway station, India Post will transport the consignment from the stationto the destination address and deliver the consignment at the doorstep of the addressee (last mile activity).
2. Flexibility of Quantum of Load: There is no fixed obligation of loading as party can book small load of 100 kg also.
3. Time Tabled Service: Parcel Train operated under JPP Scheme is a time tabled train with scheduled departure and arrival of Train at Originating, intermediate and Destination stations which
4. Safe Transmission: Indian Railways will provide intermediate transmission between origin and destination railway stations (middle mile activity), in secured sealed boxes, ensuring safe and secured passage through time tabled trains.
5. Insurance: Dept. of Post offers third party insurance facility at an affordable rate of 0.03% of cargo value to the customers availing JPP Service.
6. Affordable Tariff: First mile and last service charges at Rs 6/- per kg gives competitive and cost effective solution to the customers in comparison to existing road rates.
7. Single Point of Contact: India Post will be the single point of contact for the customer for the despatch of consignment from pick up till delivery.
8. Mobile Application: A mobile app is being developed where customers availing JPP service can book the consignment with o­nline payment facility and also can track the status of consignment with live tracking facility.

Earlier, a Pilot weekly service was launched o­n 31st March 2022 from Surat to Varanasi by attaching a VPU to Tapti Ganga Express. After the Budget announcement in 2022-23, proof of concept has been conducted o­n the textile segment from Surat and today after conducting 99 trials o­n single Parcel Van mode and 16 trials o­n full train load mode, Railways have decided to launch this combined initiative across the network.

Annexure A