Lok Sabha Question No. 403 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Kisan Rail Yojana
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ram Kripal Yadav, Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy, Y. S. Avinash Reddy, Shobha Karandlaje, Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt, Ajay (Teni) Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 403

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2021

## KISAN RAIL YOJANA

†403. SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV:

SHRI KOMATI REDDY VENKAT REDDY:

SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

SHRI AJAY KUMAR MISRA TENI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of trains being run in the country under Kisan Rail Yojana;
- (b) whether any Kisan Rail is proposed to be run via Danapur-Patna and Andhra Pradesh for the convenience of the farmers, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  Railways  has  introduced  Kisan  Rails  through  PPP arrangements for seamless National Cold Supply Chain for perishables,  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  including  the  distance covered and stoppages;
- (d) the details and schedule of Kisan Rails introduced and running till  date  and  the  number  of  Kisan  Rails  likely  to  be  introduced during the current financial year and the chargeable rates (Freight per Tonne) for major pair of stations;
- (e) the quantum of multi commodities transported so far, including fruits and vegetables;

- (f)  the  number  of  Reefer  Rail  Containers  procured,  the  number  of Refrigerated Parcel Vans procured and the details of Temperature controlled perishable Cargo Centres commissioned so far; and
- (g)  the  initiatives  of  Railways  for  increasing  food  chain  supply  so that farmers get proper market and higher prices for their produce?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (g):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (g)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 403  BY    SHRI  RAM  KRIPAL  YADAV, SHRI KOMATI REDDY VENKAT REDDY, SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY, KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE, SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT AND SHRI AJAY KUMAR MISRA TENI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.02.2021 REGARDING KISAN RAIL YOJANA

(a)  to  (g):  Under  the  Kisan  Rail  Project,  Railways  have  so  far operated Kisan Rail services on the following routes which includes Patna-Danapur and stations of Andhra Pradesh:

1. Devlali/Sangola (Maharashtra) to Danapur/Muzaffarpur (Bihar)
2. Anantpur (Andhra Pradesh) to Adarsh Nagar (Delhi)
3. Yeshwantpur (Karnataka) to Hazrat Nizamuddin (Delhi)
4. Warud/Nagpur (Maharashtra) to Adarsh Nagar (Delhi)
5. Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) to Howrah (West Bengal)
6. Sangola (Maharashtra) to Howrah (West Bengal)
7. Sangola (Maharashtra) to Shalimar (West Bengal)
8. Indore (Madhya Pradesh) to New Guwahati (Assam)
9. Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh) to New Guwahati (Assam)
10. Indore (Madhya Pradesh) to Agartala (Tripura)
11. Jalandhar (Punjab) to Jirania (Tripura)
12. Nagarsol (Maharashtra) to New Guwahati (Assam)
13. Nagarsol (Maharashtra) to Chitpur (West Bengal)
14. Nagarsol (Maharashtra) to New Jalpaiguri (Assam)
15. Nagarsol (Maharashtra) to Naugachia (Bihar)
16. Nagarsol (Maharashtra) to Fatuha (Bihar)
17. Nagarsol (Maharashtra) to  Baihata (Assam); and
18. Nagarsol (Maharashtra) to Malda Town (West Bengal)

No Kisan Rails has been introduced through PPP arrangements so far.

Since  the  launch  of  first  Kisan  Rail  service  on  7th  August 2020 and upto 22nd January 2021, Indian Railway have operated 157 Kisan Rail services, transporting approximately fifty thousand tonnes of perishables including fruits and vegetables.

Potential  circuits  for  movement  of  vegetables,  fruits  and other perishables are being identified in consultation with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Fisheries  Departments  of  State  Governments.    The assessment is being done on the basis of seasonal availability of these  items,  so  as  to  obtain  efficiency  and  economies  of  scale. Commodities booked via Kisan Rail trains are charged at 'P'-scale of parcel tariff.  50% subsidy in freight, which is borne by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) under the 'Operation Greens (TOP  to  TOTAL)'  Scheme,  is  being  granted  on  transportation  of fruits and vegetables through Kisan Rail Services.

No Reefer Rail Container or Refrigerated Parcel Van has been procured for this purpose so far. However, temperature controlled Perishable Cargo Centres have been established at Nashik, Singur, New  Azadpur,  Raja  Ka  Talab/Varanasi,  Ghazipur  and  Fatuha.  In addition,  cold  storage  Reefer  Park  has  been  developed  at  Inland Container  Depot,  Dadri  and  a  cold  storage  facility  has  been established at Rai, Sonipat.

In  order  to  increase  food  chain  supply,  Railways  have  withdrawn the  busy  season  surcharge  applicable  on  food  grains,  till  further orders.  Besides,  the  freight  of  food  grains  has  been  kept  stable from 01.04.2015. As a result of these measures the loading of food grains  has  increased  from  27.69  million  tonnes  during  April  to December in 2019-2020, to 50.47 million tonnes during corresponding period of 2020-2021.  The priority in rake allotment accorded for transportation of food-grains has also been upgraded from 'D' to 'B' category to ensure timely supply of rakes.

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