Lok Sabha Question No. 3295 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Cargo Centres in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3295 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015

## CARGO CENTRES IN RAILWAYS

## †3295. DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways have been maintaining the facilities of cold storages and temperature-controlled perishable cargo centres and its transportation through public private partnership mode;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, zone-wise including Maharashtra  for setting up of cargo centres;
- (c) whether the Railways are considering to set up more cold storage facilities for smooth movement of fruits and vegetables by rail network; and
- (d) if so, the time by which these are likely to be set up and make functioning?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a)  and  (b)    Under  a  pilot  project  called  'Kisan  Vision  Project',  Container Corporation  of  India  Limited  (CONCOR),  Central  Warehousing  Corporation (CWC) and Central Railside Warehouse Company Limited (CRWC) were asked to provide infrastructure to encourage development of facilities for setting up  cold  storages  and  temperature-controlled  perishable  cargo  centers  as well  as  developing  agri-retail  outlets  through  public  private  partnership (PPP) mode at six locations on Indian Railways. Details of these projects are as under:-
- (i)   Nasik (Maharastra): The centre located in Nasik District of Maharastra is functional since 23.02.2013.

- (ii)  New Azadpur (Delhi): Perishable Cargo Centre  at   New    Azadpur,     Adarsh Nagar, New Delhi has been functional since 24.03.2015.
- (iii)  New  Jalpaiguri  (West  Bengal):  The  perishable  Cargo  Centre  at  Bagdogra airport  was  taken  over  by  CONCOR  on  22.02.2011  from  Siliguri  Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) which was functional.  Under the provision of agreement signed between SJDA & CONCOR, SJDA was required to obtain requisite license from State Government authorities. SJDA was not able to obtain the same and, accordingly, CONCOR intends returning the facility to SJDA.
- (iv) Singur (West Bengal):  The Perishable Cargo Centre was made functional on 18/12/2011.  However,  due  to  very  low  utilization,  the  service  provider  has abandoned  the  contract.    Expression  of  interest  for  fresh  contract  for operation and maintenance of the facility has been floated.
- (v) Dankuni (West Bengal): Central Railside Warehouse Company Ltd.(CRWC) has been entrusted with the responsibility of developing Perishable Cargo Centre at Dankuni. However, Eastern Railway has not been able to release requisite land at the proposed site due to presence of coal blocks, commercial plots,
- high tension wire and infringing road movement.
- (vi) Perishable Cargo Centre at Ghazipur Ghat (Uttar Pradesh): The facility which is expected to be functional by December 2016, will have a built-up area of 1350  sq.m  in  Phase-I  along  with  other  ancillary  facilities  for  storage  of different types of vegetables and fruits for better shelf life.
- (c)  and  (d)    CRWC  is  detailed  to  carry  out    preliminary  surveys  pertaining  to availability of land, feasibility, layout plans etc. for construction of temperature-controlled storages at 10 other locations; viz. Vatva, Vishakhapatnam,  Badagara,  Udhna,  Cheriyanad,  Bhivandi Road, Azara, Navlur, Kalamboli and Yashwantpura. CRWC has been allowed a timeframe of  two  years  for  construction  and  operationalization  of  the  warehouse complex after obtaining necessary approvals.

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