Question : ALLOCATION OF VENTILATED RAKES TO TRANSPORT MANGOES

(a) Whether to cope up with the WTO regime, where multinational corporations have started entering the market in a big way, mango growers and exporters from southern States have urged the Railways to allocate ventilated rakes to transport mangoes without damage;

(b) if so, whether the Railways have accepted their demand;

(c) if so, the extant to which additional ventilated rakes have been allocated to these States including Andhra Pradesh;

(d) if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the other steps proposed to boast exports of fruits without damage in Railway godowns by arranging for proper preservation like clod storages, etc.?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS AND PARLIAMENT AFFAIRS (SHRI O. RAJAGOPAL)

(a) to (d) : No, Sir. A few societies of Andhra Pradesh had requested for VP rakes for transportation of mangoes to Delhi and Kolkata. During this mango season from April 2001 to June 2001, 43 rakes of mango special trains were run from Vizianagaram to Naya Azadpur (Delhi) and 2 special trains (NMG rakes) from Vizianagaram to Kolkata. Similarly, 39 rakes of mango special trains were run from Nuzvid, Falaknuma and Vijayawada to Naya Azadpur (Delhi) as per the demands of the merchants. The demands were fully complied with.

(e): The transit time of mango rakes is monitored to avoid deterioration to the fruits due to inordinate delays. Railways do not provide preservation facilities like cold storage, etc.