Question : Kisan Rail

(a) whether the Government is contemplating to develop Kisan Rail-a vast network of trains for the benefit of farmers across the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the trains that have been sanctioned along with their expected date of commencement as well as the proposals for such trains that are under consideration of the Ministry, State-wise; and

(c) The details of the funds sanctioned and activities being undertaken by the Railways to promote startups in agri-infrastructure, promotion of new FPOs and strengthening of existing FPOs for backward integration to help in effectively running these Kisan Rail trains across the country, State-wise?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b) and (c): Under the Kisan Rail Project, potential circuits for movement of vegetables, fruits and other perishables are being identified in consultation with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Fisheries Departments of State Governments. The assessment is being done on the basis of seasonal availability of these items for both way traffic, so as to obtain efficiency and economies of scale.

Under the Kisan Rail Project, two train services viz. Devlali& Kolhapur (Maharashtra) to Muzaffarpur (Bihar), and Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) to Adarsh Nagar (Delhi) are already operational. Another service from Yeshwanthpur (Karnataka) to Nizamuddin (Delhi) will become operational very soon.
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