The first onion special train was flagged off from Visakhapatnam on Friday.
The train, which is carrying only onions, is an initiative of Waltair Division of East Coast Railway. The pilot project saw the onion special travel from Visakhapatnam to Bihar’s Jalalgarh in Katihar Division of Northeast Frontier Railway.
The train had 10 parcel van coaches each with a capacity to carry 23 tons of onions and 2 second class-cum-luggage coaches having capacity of 8 tons each. On its maiden journey, the train carried 246 tons of onion.
The Business Development unit of Waltair Division came to the aid of farmers of this region, where farmers have been facing difficulties in transporting onions in safer and faster mode.
Onion farmers from the region and nearby areas loaded their produce on the train. The initiative will help them get fair price for their crop. The closed parcel vans will protect the onion from rain and ensure that it is transported in minimum time.
Following the trial run, railway officials will discuss with farmers and traders about the arrangement and effect amendments if needed.
