2 Trains from (DMC)DHEMAJI to (RNY)RANGIYA JN

N.F. Railway has been running Kisan rail trains to and from NE Region aiming to help local farmers and producers apart from transporters. It is an initiative by Indian Railways to boost the income of farmers by moving perishables like fruits and vegetables from production/surplus regions to consumption/deficient regions. Indian Railways, with its pan-India network, forms an integral part of the government plan to raise incomes in farm sector by encouraging transportation by rail. This initiative is helping farmers/small aggregators/co-operative society benefit from swift transportation of their products across the country through Rail.

It may be mentioned here that as per the announcement made in the Union Budget 2020-21, Indian Railways has started running Kisan Rail train services, to transport perishables and agri-product.

The first Kisan Rail train was flagged-off o­n 07.08.2020 between Devlali (Maharastra) and Danapur (Bihar). These Kisan Rail trains are run o­n time-tabled paths, and their punctuality is strictly being monitored to avoid any en-route detentions and delays. This is multi-commodity, multi-consignor/consignee, multi-loading/unloading transportation product which is aimed at providing wider market to our Kisans. There is no minimum limit o­n quantity that can be booked, enabling small farmers to reach bigger and distant markets.

Perishable fruits like Mango, Banana, Guava, Kiwi, Litchi, Papaya, Mousambi, Orange, Mandarin (a variety of orange), Kinnow, Lime, Lemon, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Jackfruit, Apple, Almond, Passion fruit, Pear, Sweet Potato and similar items can be easily transported.

Perishable vegetables like French beans, Bitter Gourd, Brinjal, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower,Chillies (Green), Okra, Cucumber, Peas, Garlic, o­nion, Potato, Tomato, Large Cardamom, Pumpkin, Ginger, Cabbage, Squash, Turmeric (dry), Turmeric (raw) and similar items can be easily transported.

Agro-products like Bamboo, Rubber, and Betel nuts, Raw-turmeric, Black Pepper, Mustard, Soybean, Tea and Mandarin (Orange variety) can be transported through Kisan Rail from NE Region.

50% subsidy 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 the destinations like Agartala, Dimapur, Changsari, New Guwahati, Jorhat Town, Azara, Tinsukia are being covered by “Kisan Rail” in Northeast Frontier Railway. For detail information o­ne can contact 1) Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager/Katihar : 9771441950; 2) Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager/Alipurduar : 9002052950; 3) Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager/Rangiya : 9957554950; 4) Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager/Lumding : 9957553950; 5) Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager/Tinsukia : 9957555950; 6) Dy.CCM/Rates/Maligaon: 9957550953 7) Area Manager/Badarpur: 9957553901 or 7) Asst. Commercial Manager/Guwahati: 9957553954

Northeast Frontier Railway hopes that active support & cooperation of all stake holders will lead to increase in the income of farmers in very near future.

Indian Railways has been in the forefront of implementing Digital Initiatives realizing the dream of Digital India. Information technology-oriented passenger applications/amenities like National Train Enquiry System (NTES) and the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) have been revolutionizing the passenger travel experience. Now, Indian Railways is forging ahead with providing access to Internet Facility to the passengers through its Wi-Fi Network Connectivity/ facility at Railway Stations.

In a major public friendly measure, 381 stations over Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) have been equipped with free high speed Wi-Fi Internet Connectivity so far making around 4239.13 Route KMs of Northeast Frontier Railway covered with OFC (Optical Fibre Cable).

In Katihar Division- 81 stations, Alipurduar Division- 64 stations, RangiyaDivision- 78 stations, Tinsukia Division- 47 stations, Lumding Division- 111 stations have been equipped with Wi-Fi facility under NFR. This zone serves railway service over all northeastern states and West Bengal and Bihar. 32 stations of Bihar, 102 stations of West Bengal, 218 stations of Assam, 20 stations of Tripura, 3 stations of Nagaland, 1 station of Meghalaya, 4 stations of Arunachal Pradesh, 1 station of Mizoram so far have been provided with Wi-Fi facility.

The number of users of Wi-Fi facilities in these stations is steadily increasing. This project has been taken up as a mission of turning Railway Stations into hubs of digital inclusion.

The responsibility to implement this remarkable Digital India initiative has been entrusted to Railway Mini Ratna PSU "RAILTEL". Working tirelessly and continuously, RAILTEL is providing state of the art public Wi-Fi under the brand name of Railwire. RailTel has so far commissioned this facility at more than 6070 stations across India.

NFR from time to time keeps launching awareness campaigns for promoting this facility through videos and messages o­n social media, regular announcements, hoarding and banners at stations, Northeast Frontier Railway has been promoting the usage of Wi-Fi facility by the Rail Users and Passengers through various media platform.

Railway Stations are places where cross-section of the society converges. The quickening pace of modernisation and manifold increase in smart phone usage has triggered a ‘Digital India’ revolution.Envisaged in 2015 Rail Budget, the project of providing free Wi-Fi Internet facility at stations aims to bring free Wi-Fi access to railway stations across India.

Students, especially UPSC, RRB, RRC & SSC aspirants from remote locations with limited access to internet, use the station Wi-Fi facilities for their preparations.

These initiatives of Indian Railway and RailTel have paved the way for the common Indian Railway Traveller to reap the benefits of Digital Technology. Truly ensuring that Digital India is happening where it really matters – On Stations of Indian Railways where the public can have free access to Technology through RailWire’s Wi –Fi.