Railway Board to launch first assured transit time container train between Delhi, Kolkata from Oct 1
New Delhi (PTI): Indian Railway will launch its first assured transit time container train service on a pilot basis between Delhi and Kolkata from October 1, officials said.
The train service will start from Tughlakabad in Delhi and reach Kolkata via Agra and Kanpur in a guaranteed transit time of 120 hours, marking a significant milestone in the logistics sector, they said.
“The train will be operated by Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) and it will connect four of its Inland Container Depots (ICDs) on the route starting from Tughlakabad in Delhi. So the route will be Tughlakabad (TICD), Agra (ICDY), Kanpur (ICDG) and Kolkata (CTKR/CTCS),” a senior railway official said.
“It will operate on a bi-weekly schedule, departing every Wednesday and Saturday. A unique feature of this service is the hub-and-spoke cargo facility at Agra and Kanpur, enabling efficient cargo aggregation for a wider catchment area,” the Railway Board said in a statement.
Additionally, customers will benefit from the waiver of empty wagon haulage charges from Tughlakabad to Kanpur, further enhancing cost efficiency, it said.
Officials clarified that if the train or some of the containers remain empty from the starting point at Tughlakabad and up to Kanpur, the loss will not be compensated by charging additional fare from the customers.
According to the Ministry, the pilot project is expected to provide multiple advantages to customers, including door-to-door assured and reliable delivery for time-sensitive cargo, a competitive alternative to road transport, enhanced connectivity for northern hinterland cargo, and priority benefits for early adopters.
“It also contributes to sustainability by promoting a modal shift from road to rail, reducing the carbon footprint, and supporting India’s commitment to green logistics. Through this initiative, Indian Railways and CONCOR reaffirm their focus on customer-centric, reliable, and sustainable logistics solutions,” the Ministry said.
The launch of this assured transit train service represents a transformative step towards a more efficient and environmentally responsible supply chain ecosystem, it stressed.
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Mentally unstable man arrested for bludgeoning elderly mother, wife to death in Jharkhand
Lohardaga (Jharkhand) (PTI): A mentally unstable man was arrested for allegedly bludgeoning his elderly mother and wife to death in Jharkhand's Lohardaga district, police said on Sunday.
The incident took place in Dhanamuji village in Bhandra police station area on Saturday evening. The deceased have been identified as Rupi Oraon (62) and Somri Oraon (45), they said.
"The accused, Madwa Oraon, was arrested immediately after the incident. He allegedly attacked his mother and wife with an iron rod after an altercation over some issues, leading to their death on the spot," Lohardaga Superintendent of Police (SP) Sadique Anwar Rizvi said.
He said the bodies of both the victims were sent to Sadar Hospital, Lohardaga for post-mortem examination.
"The accused is mentally unstable. He has been receiving treatment for the last one year. He used to get agitated over small issues, and that might have been the reason behind the incident," another police officer said.
An FIR has been registered against the accused, Manoj Gupta, officer-in-charge of Bhandra police station, said.
