Opening Wardha stn for parcel loading paying rich dividends to Rlys
| Date :23-Apr-2020 |
By Sagar Mohod :
Jet-speed permission to parcel loading by the CR bosses during lockdown is keeping the wheels of Indian economy moving and helping protect jobs
Yet again decision of Commercial Branch of Central Railway's Nagpur Division has come handy amid lockdown, moreover now for Indian Railways it is paying rich dividends. Call it foresight but in days of countrywide lockdown due to outbreak of coronavirus pandemic division officials positive role led to opening of Wardha Railway station for parcel loading. The decision now assumes significance since Wardha Collector banned any export or export of any commodity out of district as it falls in Green Zone and needs to protect against influx of coronavirus. In this light the decision about Wardha about a week back was a stitch in the right time. Krishnath Patil, Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr. DCM), Central Railway, Nagpur Division, knack in pursuing the matter with Headquarters, ensured that permission came with almost rocket speed.
Said Patil, Railway is keen to keep the wheels of economy moving and hence the rates of parcel are slashed to minimum enabling constant movement of essential commodities in times of COVID-19 pandemic. Entire efforts of Railway Minister Piyush Goel to ensure movement of commodities and goods normal in the country has now provided added benefit as jobs are getting protected due to ongoing transportation of vegetables, mushrooms, fruits and more importantly medicines and other medical kits in the country, Patil pointed out.
Talking to The Hitavada, Vedanshu Goel, J K Mushroom, and major beneficiary due to opening of Wardha station, was all praise for division railway officials whose response he said was phenomenal as they literally rushed to our aid. Not only it has ensured that jobs are protected but also our losses are pared which is in turn going to keep wheels of economy moving. Recalling the entire event, Goel said their daily production of white button mushrooms is about two tonnes and they are cultivated in cold storage facility.
The power load at plant is 1/2 MW and demand centres for mushrooms are Eastern and Southern parts of the country and partly Nagpur city. While Jam falls in Wardha district, the Green zone, and from there through road transport the mushrooms used to sent for loading to Nagpur, it falls in Red Zone. The inter-district transport raised concerns as drivers used to criss-cross Red and Green Zones. So Shekhar Balekar, Chief Parcel Supervisor (G), Nagpur Parcel Department, on advice of senior officials propped up idea about trying Wardha for loading the mushroom. Goel said he then talked to Assistant Commercial Manager (Coaching) V C Thool who also realised the potential and took keen interest in drafting the proposal. Thereafter, Sr. DCM initiated the proposal and spoke to Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM) and also with Principal Chief Operations Manager (PCoM), Central Railway.
The local operations department and Sr. Divisional Operations Manager (Sr. DoM) Ashutosh Shrivastav too played a critical role in getting super fast approval for opening parcel loading at Wardha station. This was on April 13 and since then daily about 1/2 to one tonnes of white button mushroom is being loaded from Wardha, generating revenue for Railways. Said Goel daily nearly 50 packets, about 500 kgs of mushroom, is being dispatched to various cities of Eastern part of country and daily earnings are around Rs. 20,000. This also has created employment for locals in Wardha, who load the consignment in Parcel Vans and also was in praise for support by Commercial Inspector Soni at Wardha station. "However most importantly of J K Mushroom, it is a major plus point as we are claming that the produce is being dispatched from Green Zone, the most valuable thing in today's condition", Goel added further.
Wardha model replicated at Betul, CR’s Ngp divn again innovates Meanwhile, the trend set by Commercial Department and piloted through Nagpur Parcel Department and widely applauded over Indian Railways has caught fancy and more centres of CR's Nagpur Division are into innovation, said Sr. DCM Krishnath Patil. He told The Hitavada that today for first time they loaded about 1.7 tonnes of Charoli, a dry fruit, was booked from Betul to Kacheguda station in Andhra Pradesh. Further one tonnes was loaded from Betul to Vadodra station of Gujarat state. Together the revenue earned through 2.7 tonnes of loading was Rs. 6908. Patil told The Hitavada after receiving request for loading the matter was discussed with Operating Department and with Headquarters. Special halt was provided for Train No. 00762 Parcel Special Train at Betul. While the consignment was booked at 16.45 hrs the loading was completed b 19.23 hrs. However there was a problem as the consignment was meant for delivery at Hyderabad and nearest station was Kacheguda but the parcel special was going through different route. Phone calls were exchanged and the parcel special was diverted to Kacheguda to ensure the material reached destination. The role of Section CI S D Panth and MSI Coaching Sanjay Gambhir was applauded by division officials.
