Maligaon, April 30: N.F. Railway is fully committed to ensure availability of different types of food grains, important raw material for industries and fuel through its freight train services to meet the requirements of the common people, power and industry sector, transport and key infrastructure sectors during the nationwide lock down.
The N.F. Railway has transported huge quantity of Food grains, Sugar, Salt, Coal, Cement, Edible oil and POL products etc to every nook & corner within its jurisdiction as per requirement and demand received.
During the lockdown period from 23rd March to 29th April 2020, NFR carried more than 530 freight rakes to and from various parts of our country. Items carried were unloaded in the goods sidings of various states within the jurisdiction of NFR as per demand received.
Items unloaded and transported includes, 286 rakes of FCI food grains, 33 rakes of mixed essential commodities, 25 rakes of sugar, 23 rakes of salt, 27 rakes of mixed food items, 57 rakes of coal for power plants and other industries, 40 rakes of fertilizer, 30 rakes of POL product.
During this period has transported 10 rakes of edible oils, 7 rakes of iron and steel, 4 rakes of automobiles, 10 rakes of fly ash, 2 rake of maize, 4 rakes of stone chips, 3 rakes of fodder, 3 rakes of charcoal, and 12 container rakes to mention some of them. One wagon carries about 58-60 tons of goods. But no of wagons in a rake depend on the materials carried.
Apart from FCI, food-grains are also being carried by various private parties to help the kitchens of all Indian homes continue to function normally. During the lockdown period from 25th March to 28th April 2020, more than 7.75 lacs tonnes (303 rakes) of private food grains (PFG) freight were also loaded across the country by Indian Railways compared to about 6.62 lacs tonnes (243 rakes) last year in same period. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamilnadu are the leading states in private food grains (PFG) freight loading. In NFR area 7 such private food grains (PFG) freight rakes were transported.
In NFR area, freight trains loaded with Food grains were unloaded at places like Batnaha, New Jalpaiguri, Maldah Court, Purnea, and many other goods sidings under Katihar division, New Coochbehar, New Alipurduar, Kokrajhar under Alipurduar division and Udaipur, Jirania in Lumding division, Salt and food grains was unloaded at Barpeta Road, New Bongaigaon and Changsari under Rangiya division.
Wheat, Food grains etc was unloaded at Silchar and Sugar, foodgrains at Jirania stations under Lumding division, Potato was unloaded at New Tinsukia, Food grains were unloaded at Jorhat, Tinsukia, Mariani and many other goods sidings under Tinsukia division.
Moreover more than 90 parcel express trains carrying items like milk, milk products, fast food, baby food, biscuits etc to and from various locations have been run by NFR till yesterday. It may be mentioned here that, NFR has also started small size parcel train for movement of items in small quantities by local businessman or various State Govt departments.
During this critical situation, Indian Railways staff deployed at various good sheds, stations, tracks and control offices apart from drivers, guards, trackmen etc continued working with full devotion to ensure that the supply of essential items for these critical sectors does not gets affected.
