India directs red chilly-laden train to Bangladesh

1051

By Aminul Islam Mirja

NEW DELHI, July 12, 2020 (BSS) – India overnight has moved a dry chilly-laden train to Bangladesh with officials saying this was the first such consignment of chilly onboard a parcel train that began its journey towards Bangladesh’s Benapole border from Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh this evening.

According to an Indian railway ministry statement the train was carrying 384 tonnes of dry chilly from Reddipalem in Guntur district of Andhra, known as a major chili cultivating region.

Officials familiar with bilateral trade issues said generally dry or red chilly were exported to Bangladesh in smaller quantity by road which used to cost Taka 7,910 per tonne while the product’s railway transportation would cost Tk 5,207.

“During the (COVID-19) lockdown period, they (farmers/traders) could not move this essential commodity by road. Then Railway staff and officials approached the consignors and explained the facilities to transport by rail,” the statement read.

The changed mode of transport, however, required Indian farmers and traders to join their hands to amass a huge bulk consignment of 384 tonnes, yet far less than the minimum required quantum of 1500 tonnes warranted by a goods train for movement.

The statement said the special express train of 16 parcel vans of Indian railways was on its way to Benapole in Bangladesh as it left Guntur the Andhra in the evening, but did not point out when it would reach the Bangladesh border.

It said the COVID-19 situation prompted Indian Railways to take a series of steps to boost parcel train traffic carrying essential goods including medical supplies and food within Indian states as well to facilitate businesses, consumers and the country’s provincial governments as well.