(a) whether the Government have introduced refrigerated parcel van/ wagons for transportation of perishable goods;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of parcel vans presently being operated by the railways ;
(c) the routes on which such facility is available at present;
(d) whether the Government propose to introduce this service in other routes also; and
(e) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI BANDARU DATTATRAYA)
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. One Prototype Refrigerated Van, having a chiller and a deep freeze compartment with total carrying capacity of 17 tonnes, has been developed by Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, and introduced on experimental basis on 1st November, 2002.
(c) The prototype refrigerated van was utilised between Ernakulam and Delhi and is presently plying between Bangalore and Gorakhpur.
(d) & (e) Introduction on other routes depends upon the experience gained by the Railways in this new type of service.