Indian Railways’ Kisan Rail sets off on maiden journey from Maharashtra

The first of Indian Railways’ highly-awaited ‘Kisan Rail’ has set off on its maiden journey from Maharashtra’s Devlali on Friday morning at 11 am and is expected to reach its final destination Danapur, Bihar on Saturday by 6:45 pm. The train was flagged off via video conference by Agriculture & Rural Minister Narendra Singh Tomar along with Railway & Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.  

The train is part of Modi government’s aim to  double farmers’ income by 2020 by providing a seamless supply chain to deliver perishable goods and increase business between Maharashtra and Bihar. The plan for this project was announced in the Union Budget for 2020-2021. The Kisan Rail is unlike anything tried or tested by the Indian Railways before because of the multiple commodities that will be handled on a single convoy. 

In the past, the Indian Railways has run trains to carry one commodity but this is the first to carry several commodities at the same time. Kisan Rail is classified as a freight train with refrigerated coaches for transporting fish, milk, meat products, fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural produce.  

The train can help expand local markets to similar hubs in Patna, Prayagraj and Satna among others. Along the way from Maharashtra to Bihar, the train will go along a strategically planned route and halt at Nasik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Satna, Katni, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar, and Buxar railway stations.  

As per the information provide, the Kisan Rail will run every Friday, starting from Devlali, Maharashtra at 11 am and is scheduled to reach Danapur, Bihar at 6:45 pm the next day after travelling a total distance of 1,519 kilometres in under 32 hours.