WR's Mumbai division taps new transportation of Sugar and Molasses

Western Railway's goods & parcel special trains have been continuously traversing across the country to keep the supply of essential commodities moving. In continuation to the consistent marketing efforts made by the Business Development Units (BDUs) of the Divisions have resulted in tapping into attracting new traffic of various types of commodities. In continuation to this, it is worthwhile to mention that the Mumbai Division has recently accomplished transportation of new commodities of Sugar and Molasses.

According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Western Railway has always been a pioneer in obtaining new traffic for its parcel special & goods trains & in the recent past several new commodities including chikoos & bananas have been successfully transported through its Kisan special & Parcel special trains. In continuation to this, the persistent initiatives by Mumbai Division has resulted in acquiring this new traffic. Till July 2021, two rakes of sugar have been loaded from Nandurbar Goods Shed, which fetched a freight revenue of Rs. 82 lakhs. This is first ever loading of sugar from Nandurbar Goods Shed in the last 25 years. In the near future, two more rakes are expected to be loaded in upcoming months.

In the month of July 2021, a rake of molasses was also loaded from Bardoli Goods Shed, fetching freight revenue of Rs. 75 Lakhs. The traffic has been recaptured after a gap of 5 years. The commodity has been transported to Odisha's Sukinda Road.

Thakur stated that from 1st April, 2021 to 2nd August, 2021, Western Railway has transported commodities weighing approx. 95 thousand tonnes through its 251 parcel special trains, which included agricultural produce, medicines, medical equipment, fish, milk and others. The revenue generated through this transportation, has been approx Rs. 32.38 crore. 62 Milk Special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of above 43 thousand tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons.

Similarly, 74 COVID-19 special parcel trains with a load of approx. 12400 tonnes were also run to transport essential commodities. In addition to this, 45 indented rakes carrying approx. 22000 tonnes were also run with 100% utilization. To help the farmers find new markets for their produce and for its economical and fast transportation, 70 Kisan Rails with load of more than 17000 tonnes have also been run during this period from various divisions.

During the period from 1st April to 2nd August, 2021 total 12907 rakes of goods trains have been run by WR and carried 28.12 million tonnes of essential commodities. 27041 freight trains were interchanged with other zonal railways, in which 13,542 trains were handed over and 13,499 trains were taken over at different interchange points.

Thakur further added that Business Development Units (BDUs) are in constant contact with the existing and probable freight customers to encourage them to transport their goods through railways with the incentives introduced by the Railway Board for quick, reliable, economical & bulk transportation of their goods.