Hyderabad: SCR goods transport rises manifold in '20

Hyderabad: To replenish food and commodities supplies across the country since the Covid-induced lockdown, the SCR pressed into service as many as 511 special parcel trains to transport essential goods. Simultaneously, the SCR also increased the numbers of goods trains rakes to ferry commodities this year. It operated 9,530 good rakes in 2020 as against 7,297 last year.

As many as 68,000 tones of essential commodities were transported this year. The aforementioned trains transported essential items like medical supplies, medical equipment and food have been a part of efforts by the railways to ensure supply of essential items across the country during the lockdown and it is still in progress.

"SCR introduced special timetabled parcel trains and till November 2020, 511 special timetabled parcel trains were run. A total of 90,000 tones have been transported, including 68,000 tonnes essential commodities. Extra bogies were attached to accommodate the household services," according to CH Rakesh, CPRO, SCR.

During this year, regular passenger train services are suspended, and only special parcel trains are being run for transporting essential goods. The commodities were handled despite lack of trains in huge numbers: 63, 45,187 tonnes of foodgrains, 45,72,759 tonnes of fertilizers, and 1,56,41,625 tonnes cement.