ECoR carries 7,000 tonnes of parcel during lockdown

BHUBANESWAR: The railways has started Time Tabled parcel trains as a new concept after regular train operations were suspended during lockdown.
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has loaded 7,000 tonnes of parcel that include 6,160 tonnes of essential commodities through Special Parcel Express Trains between April and June (first quarter of this financial year).
“Traditionally, a major share of parcel traffic used to be carried through regular coaching trains. We started this parcel train system during lockdown to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to different parts of the country. Parcel traffic has emerged as the preferred mode for carrying essential items like fruits and vegetables, milk, edible oil, grocery items, medicine and medical equipment, PPEs, sugar, salt and other products,” said a senior railway officer.

ECoR sources said the zone has loaded 4,376 tonnes of fruits and vegetables (mostly mangoes) and transported to various markets including Delhi safely and timely. “Farmers were facing difficulties to send their fruits and vegetables to big cities of the country during lockdown, but ECoR has solved their issues by arranging these parcel trains,” said the officer.
These trains played a vital role in maintaining the necessary supply chain for edible items. The ECoR zone has loaded and transported 824 tonnes of fish and 210 tonnes of milk or dairy products and eggs from ECoR jurisdiction. It has also received dry milk powder and edible oil in different stations coming under its jurisdiction.
ECoR has carried 31 tonnes of medicine and 20 tonnes of medical equipment during this period (April-June). This includes many life-saving medicines and samples to laboratories. Apart from this, 673 tonnes of other essential commodities have been transported to different destinations, said the official sources.
The railway zone has also received around 5,240 tonnes of the parcel including medical equipments, medicines, cotton bags, PPEs, egg and milk in the first quarter.
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