In order to provide benefit to parcel customers including farmers and businessmen, Indian Railways have taken a series of measures which include -

1. Opening of all freight handling terminals for handling of parcel traffic.
2. Formation of dedicated teams at zonal and divisional levels for dealing with parcel related issues.
3. Increasing the parcel carrying capacity by permitting attachment of LHB parcel van as 23rd coach and leasing of parcel space in parcel vans attached to Rajdhani/Duronto trains, and allowing booking of parcels upto 120 days in advance.
4. Providing incentives to parcel traffic by reducing security deposit in case of leased parcel space from 10% to 5% of the annual contractual value, discount upto 30% on brake-vans and indented parcel vans/Parcel Cargo Express Trains (PCET) in case their utilization is less than 40%, 8% discount on base freight for parcel special trains indented and loaded with a composition of 24 parcel vans plus brake-van, and discount in advance bulk booking of parcel space.
5. Operating Kisan Rail services to enable farmers to move perishables including fruits and vegetables from production or surplus regions to consumption or deficient regions. 50% subsidy in freight, which is borne by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), is being granted on transportation of fruits and vegetables through Kisan Rail services.

So far, 24 rakes of export traffic have been sent to Bangladesh. Besides, Zonal Railways have been advised to explore the avenues available in export sector and identify potential traffic that can be moved to Ports through Railways.

This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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DJN