In a first, India sends a parcel train to Bangladesh

In a first ever cross-border movement for Indian Railways, a special parcel train was sent to Benapole, Bangladesh carrying dry chillies from Reddipalem in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

The Special Parcel Express train carried 384 tonnes of dried chillies in 16 parcel vans. The cost per tonne for carrying by special train was Rs 4,608 per tonne and which was far more economical when compared with road transport, typically amounting to Rs 7,000 per tonne.

The amount used to be paid by farmers and merchants in and around Guntur area for transporting it by road to Bangladesh in small quantities. The supplies got hit during the lockdown period.

Indian Railways has taken a series of steps to boost parcel train traffic during the Covid period, by making railway parcel vans available for quick mass transportation of essential items like medical supplies, medical equipment, food, etc, by e-commerce entities and other customers including state governments. Railways has run over 4,304 time-tabled parcel special trains on select routes, to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential items.