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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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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