Consolidating its partnership with M/s Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), Central Railway’s Nagpur Division dispatched maiden rake with raw material to Tinsukia in Assam from Godhni Station in city on Sunday. The strategic partnership is first-of-its-kind and stated to earn the division Rs 53 crore over a period of six years. Earlier, parcel lease agreement were vetted at Headquarters but in changing role, Indian Railways have empowered Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) to take the final decision and the outcome turned out to be a gold mine for Nagpur Division. DRM Richa Khare along with Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr. DCM) Krishnath Patil were present at Godhni during dispatch of 14 Parcel Van Units containing raw and packing material to HUL’s plant at New Tinsukia.

 

As per the agreement, PCET (Parcel Train) will run bi-monthly ex-Godhni and generate revenue of Rs 23,99,459 per round trip. This tender is given for a period of six years and Railways will generate a Revenue of Rs 53.30 crore for this period. In fact, the HUL agreement is another success of Business Development Unit (BDU), it also includes Assistant Commercial Manager (Coaching) V C Thool, establishment has provided much-needed seamless clearance across different branches of Railways. Earlier, M/s Western Carriers used to list its indent for dispatch of materials from HUL’s Kalmeshwar godown to New Tinsukia-based factory. Same rake used to return with finished products to Godhani providing Railways end to end traffic. The problem with indent is availability of parcel rakes in time as they are short in supply over Railways. This would have put HUL in trouble due to mismatch schedule in dispatch of raw materials and bringing back finished goods. The officials of BDU provided guidance to HUL team and Western Carriers about the advantage for going in with long term agreement with Railways.

 

Apart from substantial savings in transportation cost, the salient point of agreement is that HUL would get preference in allotment of Parcel Van rake over and above the parties providing indent for loading. The division post delegation of powers from Central Railway Headquarters had floated tender and Western Carriers did not blink twice before putting in its quotation that was ratified in record time. With agreement in place, the forwarding agent of HUL, the Western Carriers savings would be substantial as they would need to pay only 1.25 per cent rather than double rent for dispatching and bringing back materials to and fro Tinsukia.

 

This is so as Railways have a scheme Preferential Traffic Order whose benefits were explained by field team of BDU to company officials. For the first six months for HUL 14 VPU would be available and thereafter they can load 20 VPU and in case they have extra material Railways can provide 24 VPU by charging the extra fare. For Nagpur Division since lockdown the Parcel Department has been a money spinner. Added to that faster decision-making has been a game changer and provided field teams the added edge to offer lucrative offers to forwarding agents and companies.