UNION Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday flagged off the country’s first ‘Kisan Rail’ train from Deolali in Nashik to Danapur in Bihar, through video-conferencing.

 

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said Kisan Rail will help in transporting agricultural produce, especially perishable commodities, at cheaper rates and aid farmers in getting the right price for their crops. Tomar, who also holds Rural Development and Panchayati Raj portfolios, said the Indian Railways had operated 4,610 trains on 96 routes, ensuring supply of food items across the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, who presided over the event, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had planned various measures to free farmers from years of bondage and these will make farmers of the country “atmanirbhar” (self-reliant) and prosperous.

 

Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Minister Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Chhagan Bhujbal were among the dignitaries who attended the virtual ceremony. The Railways’ Kisan Rail service cut the transport time of perishable foodstuffs such as fruits and vegetables by 15 hours and cost farmers Rs 1,000 per tonne less than ferrying them by road, officials said.

It is a weekly service operating every Friday from Deolali, and returning on Sunday from Danapur. The train will cover a distance of 1,519 kms in 31.45 hours on a single trip and will halt at Nashik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Satna, Katni, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay junction and Buxar stations. Any farmer, or any other interested party, can directly book their consignments on this train without any lower limit on the size of the consignment.

 

“The consignment can be as small as 50-100 kgs, and can be booked from any stopping station to any other stopping station, giving full flexibility (to farmers),” the official said.