North East Frontier Railway (NFR) has decided to run Kisan Special trains from Agartala to Howrah and Sealdah with effect from February 11 for the benefit of the farmers and transporters of the Northeastern region.
Kisan Special Train bearing number 00320 will leave from Agartala at 7:15 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to reach Sealdah at 1 pm on the third day. The train will have stoppages at stations like Dharmanagar, Badarpur, Lumding, Guwahati, Kamakhya, Goalpara, New Bongaigaon, New Alipurduar, New Coochbehar, New Jalpaiguri, Malda Town, Khaltipur, Bardhaman and Bandel for loading/unloading.
Kisan Special Train bearing number 00328 will leave from Agartala at 7:15 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to reach Howrah at 12:45 pm on the third day. The train will have stoppages at stations like Dharmanagar, Badarpur, Lumding, Guwahati, Kamakhya, Goalpara, New Bongaigaon, New Alipurduar, New Coochbehar, New Jalpaiguri, Malda Town, Khaltipur, Bardhaman, Bandel and Serampore for loading/unloading.
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It may be mentioned here that as per the announcement made in the Union Budget 2020-21, Indian Railways has started running Kisan Rail train services to transport perishables and agri-product, including milk, meat and fish.
The first Kisan Rail train was flagged-off on August 7, 2020, between Devlali (Maharastra) and Danapur (Bihar). These Kisan Rail trains run on time-tabled paths, and their punctuality is strictly being monitored to avoid any en-route detentions and delays.
This is a multi-commodity, multi-consignor/consignee, multi-loading/unloading transportation product which is aimed at providing a wider market to farmers. Commodities which may be transported via Kisan Rail are tea, rubber, turmeric, black pepper, mustard, soybean, betel nut, oranges, pineapple, ginger, kiwi, passion fruit, chillies (green), large cardamon and other fruits and vegetables. A subsidy of 50% is being granted on the transportation of fruits and vegetables via Kisan Rail.
The primary objective of running Kisan Rail trains is to increase the income in farm sector by connecting production centres to markets and consumption centres. It is expected that with the introduction of this Kisan Rail consignors/farmers will be benefitted.
