Maligaon, May 18: During the Nationwide lockdown period, Railways have demonstrated agility and ingenuity to cater to completely new requirements that arose in India’s fight against COVID-19.
As the situation being faced is an unprecedented one, the requirements are also of unique kind. However, there was challenge of uninterrupted supply of essential commodities like rice, wheat, vegetables, milk, medicine, fruits, petroleum products etc. not only to the door steps of crores of the people of our country but also to Corona Warriors.
Indian Railway has played a significant role in providing its services for transportation of these essential commodities and lifesaving drugs and medical equipment’s even beyond this region
Northeast Frontier Railway is not lagging behind and has already operated more than 100 nos. of Parcel Special trains arriving at Guwahati, New Guwahati, Azara, Changsari, Agatala& New Tinsukia from major industrial hubs situated in Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Bangalore and Kolkata Area were unloaded for quick distribution of essential commodities to remote markets to provide relief to the public .
In order to ensure hassle free booking and delivery of Parcel & freight consignments, all Railway Officials at every level were put into the job so that wheels of rail never stopped. Northeast Frontier Railway achieved to deliver such huge quantity of essential commodity with mandatory skeleton staff.
These inbound Parcel Express trains carried essential commodities like Milk, various Milk Products, Medicine, Mask, Personal Protection Equipment, Sanitizer for hospital uses, Sanitizer for Personal Use, Maggi and other Nestle products, fresh fruits, Baby foods, AmulTaza, Amul Ghee etc. to this region.
NFR has also played a pivotal role in ensuring the availability of essential commodities and medical equipment in this region at this hour of crisis. NFR has operated a few Covid-19 Parcel Special Trains viz -Guwahati – Agartala & back, Guwahati – Dibrugarh and back 3.Guwahati – Mandipathar & back, Dimapur – Howarh & back 5. New Jalpaiguri – Guwahati & back 6. Guwahati – Securderabad and back.
So that various producers of this region can avail the transportation facility amidst nationwide lockdown period. Due to this endeavour, NFR has been able to transport more than 1640 ton of material containing sanitizer, mask, medicine, blood sample bags, other goods etc.& fetched Rs.65 lakhs to Railway as revenue so that flow of essential commodities can be ensured.
With an objective to provide transport solution to much needed Agriculture sector of Assam Area, NFR operated one round trip time tabled Covid -19 Kissan Parcel Train in between Guwahati – Dibrugarh with intermediate halt at Jagiroad, Chaparmukh Jn., Hojai, Lumding, Diphu, Dimapur, Sarupathar, FarkatingJn, Mariani Jn., Simaluguri Jn., Duliajan& New TinsukiaJn in both direction on regular interval. These services of Covid -19 Kissan Parcel Train in between Guwahati Dibrugarh & Agartala have been getting good response from the traders which is growing day by day.
Recently, e-commerce portal Amazon and India Post availed the Parcel Special Services from Guwahati to book their consignments to New Delhi and Kolkata area. So far, NFR has been able to book more than 2000 packages & earned Rs. 3 lakhs. Earlier, this traffic was pre-dominantly transported through Roadways and Airways. Now, Common masses are realising that such endeavour of Railway will surely boost the economy.
These Parcel Special Services rendered by the Indian Railway are not only ensuring availability of essential commodities across the country but also playing a pivotal role in fight against Covid-19 with support to the growth of our economy.
