On Tuesday, the first Kisan Rail of Western Railway set off on its tracks to reach the New Guwahati Railway station. This train is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) based venture, announced in the union budget this year. Kisan Rail is meant for the speedy transportation of perishable items and it also falls under the banner of the Atmanirbhar Bharat project. The train will leave every Tuesday from the Laxmibai Nagar Railway Station in Indore, till February 2021, as per official reports.

Railways offering 50% discount to farmers

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This rail operation has been initiated by Ratlam Division in the Western Railway Zone and to attract the farmers, the Railways is also offering 50% subsidy on the transportation of these types of goods to the farmers. The route of the kisan train has been mapped in such a way that Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Barabanki, Chapra Rural, Hajipur, Katihar, Krishnaganj, New Jalpaiguri stations, will be the primary halts.

Speaking on the occasion, a senior public relations officer of Western Railway, Ratlam Division, was quoted saying, "18 coaches filled with onions are attached in this Kisan Rail, while the remaining 2 coaches are empty in which any farmer can book his goods on the way." The DRM, Ratlam Division, also mentioned, "One needs at least 150 tonnes of goods to book a train and as farmers were not in a position to book their crops, we used two middlemen but in future the farmers' groups will be contacted directly."