Govt proposes special trains to move milk, veggies & fruits

Special milk tanker trains and temperature controlled facilities for movement of fruits and vegetables are some of the proposals in the rail budget as the government focuses on improving supply of food items against the backdrop of price rise.

Presenting the Railway Budget for this fiscal in Parliament, Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said, "I proposed to give a boost to movement of fruits and vegetables in partnership with the Central Railside Warehousing Corporation (CRWC) by providing requisite facilities of temperature controlled facilities at 10 locations..."

These locations are Vatva, Vishakhapatnam, Badagara, Cheriyanad, Bhivandi Road, Azara, Navlur, Kalamboli and Sanand on Indian railways in the first phase, he said.

The aggregation and distribution from railway terminal points will be organised by the CRWC.

"I hope, apart from avoiding national wastage of these products, this would help producers of fruits and vegetables in different parts of the country in getting better prices for their products," Gowda said.

Railways will also provide facilitate transportation of milk through rail by providing special train tanker and trains in association with National Dairy Development Board and cooperative Amul.

Inflation rose to five-month high to 6.01% in May due to rise in prices of essential items like vegetables, fruits and cereals.

The new government has taken several measures in the last few weeks to curb prices. It has imposed minimum export price on onions and potatoes. They have included these two commodities under the ambit of the Essential Commodities Act and empowered the state governments to take actions against hoarders and black-marketeers.