CM Yediyurappa flags off Kisan Rail to Delhi
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on June 29 flagged off the Kisan Rail from Chintamani to New Delhi from Yelahanka Railway Station in Bengaluru. Farmers will be able to get access to markets located in faraway places and be able to realise better and higher prices for their produce. The CM lauded the initiative of the Prime Minister in starting the Kisan Rail Scheme.
Kisan Rail started in August 2020, has since been beneficial to farmers, farm produce aggregators. An upfront subsidy of 50% on the freight charges is provided for Kisan Rail, which helps farmers to transport their produce to distant markets at a fraction of the cost incurred by road. Five Kisan Rail trains have carried 1250 tonne mangoes from Kolar and Chikaballapur districts to Delhi since June 21, 2021.
Kisan Rail runs on the timetabled path, thereby ensuring assured transit time to the farmers/farm produce aggregators. Avoiding delay and detention ensures that the produce stays fresh upon arrival in a distant market. This particular Kisan Rail Train is scheduled to reach Delhi (a distance of 2300 km) in 38-48 hours from Chintamani, Kolar. Ministers Basavaraj Bommai, R Ashoka, ST Somashekhar, R Shankar, Yelahanka MLA SR Vishwanath were present on the occasion. Bengaluru divisional railway manager Ashok Kumar Verma, secretary of agriculture department Rajendra Kataria were present along with other senior officials.
Jaideep J Shenoy
