Maligaon, December 27 (MExN): The Northeast Frontier Railways has informed that it is running ‘Kisan Rail’ trains to and from the northeast region with the aim to help local farmers and producers.
“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,” the NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Guneet Kaur said in a press release on Monday.
According to the release, the 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 societies benefit from swift transportation of their products across the country through Rail.
It said 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 August 7, 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, it added.
Perishable fruits and vegetables, agro-products can be easily transported and 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, the release stated.
Presently the destinations like Agartala, Dimapur, Changsari, New Guwahati, Jorhat Town, Azara, Tinsukia are being covered by Kisan Rail in the NFR zone. For detailed information one can contact the following numbers: Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager/Katihar: 9771441950; Sr Divisional Commercial Manager/Alipurduar : 9002052950; Sr Divisional Commercial Manager/Rangiya : 9957554950; Sr Divisional Commercial Manager/Lumding : 9957553950; Sr Divisional Commercial Manager/Tinsukia : 9957555950; Dy CCM/Rates/Maligaon: 9957550953; Area Manager/Badarpur: 9957553901 or Asst Commercial Manager/Guwahati: 9957553954, the release stated.
