CHENNAI: To capitalise on cargo movement, Southern Railway has started running parcel trains with India Post. The railways plan 15 services across the country to attract more businesses to send their freight by train under the Gati Shakti scheme.
India Post will pick up and deliver parcels at the doorstep, while railways will transport them from Chennai to other places. Divisional railway manager Ganesh and postmaster general Natarajan flagged off the first train from Royapuram to Guwahati on Friday. Another train from Ernakulam to Sankrail (Howrah) was flagged off on Saturday. A train from Kudal Nagar in Madurai to Sankrail will be operated on February 22.
The first trip from Royapuram transported 29 tonnes of goods, which included readymade clothes, motor parts, stainless steel items, courier, and mosquito-repellents. It has brought in a revenue of Rs 2.2 lakh. The train will be operated on Fridays from Royapuram at 8 pm. The train transports goods primarily to Vijayawada, Balasore, Kharagpur, Sankrail, and Malda Town.
The Kudal Nagar-Sankrail train will carry spices, eggs, and textile goods from Dindigul, Trichy, Villupuram, and Tambaram to Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Balasore, Kharagpur, Panskura, and Mecheda. The Ernakulam-Sankrail train will carry spices, tyres from Palakkad, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Jolarpet, and Katpadi to Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Balasore, Kharagpur, Panskura, and Mecheda.
