GUWAHATI, April 3 - Maligaon-headquartered Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has managed to run more than 200 rakes of freight trains loaded with essential commodities for unloading at various locations since imposition of the nationwide lockdown.
�Freight train operations are being continued 24X7 by NFR to ensure supply of essential commodities. Till April 1 we have managed to run more than 200 rakes of freight trains loaded with essential commodities for unloading at various locations as per need of the common people and the government departments,� said Subhanan Chanda, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NFR.
He added that over 150 freight rakes loaded with essential items were unloaded at various goods sidings from the time of commencement of the lockdown till Wednesday. The other rakes are either on the tracks or waiting their turn to be unloaded.
�Freight trains loaded with foodgrains were unloaded at Batnaha, New Jalpaiguri and Malda Court sidings under the Katihar Division and Udaipur under Lumding Division, while salt and foodgrains were unloaded at Barpeta Road and Changsari under Rangiya Division. In addition, wheat and other foodgrains were unloaded at Silchar and sugar at Jirania stations under Lumding Division, while potato was unloaded at New Tinsukia and foodgrains were unloaded at Jorhat and Tinsukia under Tinsukia Division. More freight trains loaded with essential commodities are expected to enter the NFR system,� Chanda said.
He added that nearly 2,000 wagons comprising 16 rakes of petroleum products, nine rakes of coal, seven rakes of potato, four rakes of dolomite, one rake of stone chips, one rake of cement, one rake of ballast and three rakes loaded with containers of miscellaneous items were loaded for transportation till March 31.
�Essential staff of NFR are working day and night to run freight train services throughout the zone�s jurisdiction ferrying essential commodities like salt, sugar, foodgrains and petroleum products for the public distribution system. Moreover, NFR is also carrying items like potatoes, milk, vegetables, fertilisers, iron and steel, fodder, edible oil and foodgrains transported by private businessmen so that there is no shortage of these commodities in the market,� Chanda said.
NFR has also started small size parcel trains for movement of items in small quantities by businessmen or State government departments.
