Indian Railways transporting essential commodities in full swing

GUWAHATI: Indian Railways has been making all efforts to ensure that there is no shortage of essentials like sugar, salt and edible oil for consumption of the common man during the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19. The loading, transportation and unloading of these essential commodities has been in full swing during this period in various goods shed located in various parts of country as per requirement.

During the period from March 23 to April 4, Indian Railways loaded and carried 1,342 wagons of sugar, 958 wagons of salt and 378 wagons / tanks of edible oil (One wagon contains about 58 - 60 ton consignment). NFR also carried more than 700 wagons of sugar, 320 wagons of salt and 160 Wagons / tanks of edible oil products during this period. These were unloaded in various goods shed of states like Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Bengal etc so as to meet the need of common people. In addition to that, NFR also carried thousands of wagons loaded with essential food grains to North-East region apart from parts of Bihar and Bengal.

It may be mentioned here that, during this critical period of nationwide lockdown, Indian Railways staff deployed at various good sheds, stations, tracks and control offices apart from drivers, guards etc continued working with full devotion to ensure that there is no scarcity of essential items for common people.

Movement of freight trains are being closely monitored by officials at very senior level during this lockdown period to ensure that there is no scarcity. An emergency freight train movement control centre is working in the Ministry of Railways, to monitor the uninterrupted movement of materials for fuelling the power, transport and infrastructure sectors and other essential commodities all over Indian Railways. Issues which were earlier being faced by Railways at many terminal points for loading and unloading operations are being effectively resolved. Indian Railways along with Ministry of Home affairs are in touch with various State Governments to sort out any such operational issue whenever such need arises.

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