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New Delhi : Indian Railways has identified 67 routes (134 trains) for Parcel Special Trains since the start of the lockdown for transportation perishable commodities including fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products and seeds for agriculture purpose. Till April 10, 2020,, 62 routes were notified and 171 time tabled trains are being run on these routes.
The Parcel Specials have been planned to connect all the major cities of the country, viz Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. In addition, proper connectivity has also been ensured to Guwahati to ensure supplies in the North-eastern region of the country.
Other important cities connected via these trains are : Bhopal, Allahabad, Dehradun, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Ranchi, Gorakhpur, Thiruvananthapuram, Salem, Warangal, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatanam, Rourkela, Bilaspur, Bhusawal, Tatanagar, Jaipur, Jhansi, Agra, Nasik, Nagpur, Akola, Jalgaon, Surat, Pune, Raipur, Patna, Asansol, Kanpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Gwalior, Mathura, Nellore, Jabalpur, etc. Trains are being run even on those routes where demand is less, so that no part of the country remains unconnected. Trains have been given en-route stoppages at all feasible locations, so that maximum possible clearance of parcels may be done, according to a PIB release.
A Video Conference was held with Secretaries and Mission Directors of Horticulture of all State/ UTs regarding availability of Special Trains for transport of perishable commodities including Fruits, Vegetables, Milk and Dairy products and Seeds for Agriculture purpose. The VC was attended by 76 officers from across the country and addressed by Additional Secretary, DAC&FW, Addnl Member (Commercial) Railway Board, EDs of Railway Board and CONCOR, SFAC, NHB, and majority of senior officers of department. All the State Mission Directors and Secretaries of States/UTs concerned were requested to mobilise all their resources to take advantage of these trains being run by Railways. Addl. Member (Commercial), Railway Board, said that if they receive any demand from States regarding new routes or stoppage, they will immediately take necessary action to do needful.