Indian Railways is committed to ensuring food and essential commodities to reach throughout the country, come rain or shine. Despite challenging circumstances in the backdrop of outbreak of COVID-19, wheels of Indian Railways keep on moving.
In public interest, to keep up with the spirit of breaking chain of spread of COVID-19, passenger train operation has been stopped till 14th Apr.
However, running freight trains of essential goods to meet the requirement of the public throughout the country is being continued .
Loading movement and Unloading of essential commodities that include food grains rice, wheat, salt, potato seeds, (POL) Petroleum Oil and Lubricants products, coal for thermal power generation etc, is being relentlessly done and monitored at the highest level.
In the last 6 day period from 21st Mar. to 26th Mar., 21 Rakes were moved in Bengaluru division of SWR for the districts of Bengaluru urban, Bengaluru rural , Tumakuru, Ramanagaram, Chikaballapur, Kolar, etc. The commodities moved were 9 POL rakes, 3 LPG rakes, 7 rice rakes, 1 wheat rake, and 1 salt rake. 7500 Tonnes of rice were unloaded at Whitefield, Krishnarajpuram & Mandya.
5 Rakes were moved in Mysuru Division which covers the districts of Mysore, Hassan, Davangere, Shivamogga, Haveri, Chitradurga, Chamrajnagar,Chikamaglur etc. These Rakes were loaded from Hassan to Navalur(Hubballi), Desur (Belgavi), MNGT(Mysore). In addition Mysore has received 5200 Tonnes of POL products from other refineries which has been unloaded. 12 rakes of commodities comprising of 6 rice rakes and 1 rake of wheat and 1 rake of potato seeds totaling to 23,280 Tonnes were also unloaded at Mysuru.
35 Rakes of coal totaling to 1.4 Lakh Tonnes have been unloaded in Hubballi division which comprises the districts of Dharwad, Belgavi, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Koppal, Bellari, Chikodi, Uttar Kanada, Gadag etc for power generation at Kudgi and BTPK Kudathini. In addition 13 rakes of foodgrains amounting to 33,800 Tonnes have been unloaded. This includes Navalur (Hubballi), FCI siding Hubballi, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Desur (Belgavi), Bellari, Koppal, Raibag and Gadag. 2 POL rakes of 5,200 Tonnes have been handled at Vijayapura.
At all loading/unloading points, necessary minimum number of labour are being deputed and all prescribed precautions are being taken. Labours have been provided with masks and advised to wash hands thoroughly frequently, including before and after loading. Social distancing is also been ensured during loading and unloading of commodities.
SWR is ensuring 24×7 availability of labour and running of freight trains so that there is no shortage of essential commodities during the 21 day lock down on account of Covid-19.
