Jaggery traders switch to road from rail transport

Short supply of rakes and wagons forces the traders to take the decision

September 24, 2014 12:54 am | Updated October 17, 2016 01:39 pm IST - VISAKHAPATNAM:

Jaggery stocks being loaded onto trucks at the Anakapalle market, in Visakhapatnam District. A file Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

Jaggery stocks being loaded onto trucks at the Anakapalle market, in Visakhapatnam District. A file Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

Around 40 lakh lumps of jaggery, each weighing 15 kg, are being exported from the second largest jaggery market in the country – Anakapalle – every year. About two decades ago, railways was the preferred mode for transportation of jaggery lumps, but the traders shifted to road transport despite high cost.

“The short supply of rakes and wagons often reaching the wrong destinations pushed the traders take the hard decision,” says Anakapalle Jaggery Merchants’ Association president Konathala Lakshminarayana (Peda Babu).

“Thousands of daily wage earners, employees and vegetable vendors shuttle from Anakapalle to Visakhapatnam every day. Trains are the preferred mode of transport in view of the convenience and also to avoid getting caught in the traffic jams on the roads.” “There is a long- pending demand for operation of a shuttle train from Tuni to Visakhapatnam. The Kakinada – Visakhapatnam passenger is overcrowded and a couple of more shuttle services are required to cater to the needs daily passengers,” says Mr. Lakshminarayana, a former member of the ZRUCC.

Anakapalle has been merged with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) making it imperative that this station be included in the list of satellite stations like Duvvada, Simhachalam and Pendurthy for stopping of all important passenger trains.

Meeting today The meeting convened by Anakapalle MP Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao with the Divisional Railway Managers of Waltair (Visakhapatnam) of East Coast Railway and Vijayawada of South Central Railway at Anakapalle on Wednesday against this backdrop assumes significance.

“Trains should be stopped at Anakapalle, Narsipatnam, Elamanchili and the railway stations have to be improved. We will also demand either re-routing of the AP Express via Visakhapatnam or making it start from Visakhapatnam,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao told The Hindu when contacted on Tuesday.

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