Lok Sabha Question No. 1753 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Concessional Freight Services for Agricultural Items
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ms. S Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1753 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## CONCESSIONAL FREIGHT SERVICES FOR AGRICULTURAL ITEMS

## 1753. MS. S JOTHIMANI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  considered/implemented  any  schemes  to provide zero-fare/concessional freight services for transporting agricultural  produce  particularly  for  small  and  marginal  farmers  and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  current  status  of  such  schemes  including  Kisan  Rail  and  whether districts  like  Karur,  Dindigul,  Tiruchirappalli  and  Pudukkottai  known  for banana, rice, turmeric, drumstic, vegetable, flowers and other perishables have been included/benefitted;
- (c) whether the Government will introduce dedicated cold chain rail coaches/refrigerated  parcel  vans  on  key  agri-routes  to  prevent  spoilage and ensure fair market access; and
- (d) if so, the timeline and regions identified for such cold chain services and if  not,  the  reasons  for  excluding  high-output  districts  like  Karur  from these logistics interventions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): In order to facilitate transportation of agricultural produce of small and marginal farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), the power has been delegated to Zonal Railways to reduce the composition of Parcel Rakes  for  transportation  of  mixed  perishable  goods  traffic  including  fruits and  vegetables  up  to  15  Parcel  vans  plus  1  SLR  instead  of  standard composition  of  20  Parcel  vans  plus  1  SLR.  Further,  Orange,  Mango  and Banana traffic  when  moved  in  BCN/BCNA/BCX/BCXN  Rakes  are  charged  at concessional Parcel Rates (Scale-P minus 50%).

Potential  circuits  for  movement  of  vegetables,  fruits  and  other perishables  are  identified  in  consultation  with  Ministry  of  Agriculture  & Farmers Welfare and Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Fisheries Departments of State Governments as well as local bodies and agencies, Mandis etc., and Kisan Rail services are planned on the basis of demands placed taking into consideration the operational feasibility.

Since the launch of Kisan Rail service on 7 th  August 2020, Railways have operated around 2,364 Kisan Rail services, transporting approximately 7.9 lakh tonnes of perishables.

Further,  an  intra-zonal  parcel  express  train  is  scheduled  to  operate over Southern Railway between Royapuram in Chennai to Manglore Central and  back  w.e.f 12.12.2025  with stoppages  at  Salem,  Erode,  Uttukuli, Tiruppur, Podanur, Coimbatur, Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikkode, Thalassery,  Kannur  and  Kasargod  stations.   Farmers  and  traders  from  the adjacent districts can utilize the service to transport their farm produce.

A total of 47,236 TEUs have been moved in refrigerated containers by CONCOR  carrying perishable cargo including fruits, vegetables, milk products,  fish,  meat  and  other  food  items.    The  temperature  controlled storage facilities of CONCOR have been established at Nashik, New Azadpur, Dadri and Sonipat at a total investment of about  Rs 129 crore.

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