The movement of goods by train is expected to increase as a result of the nationwide lorry strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress.
An official of the Salem division of the Southern Railway said the parcel booking offices in Coimbatore, Pollachi, Mettupalayam, Udhagamandalam, Tirupur, Erode, Uthukuli, Salem and Karur were geared to handle the traffic.
“We are ready to serve the industries and traders to take their products and raw materials, to the end users, essentials and perishable products such as vegetables and fruits from the farmers to the nook and corner of the country,” said A. Vijuvin, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager.
He told The Hindu that due to lorry strike, the volume of parcel booking has increased by about 10 % and will see further surge in the days to come. Two wagons of perishables weighing around 41 tonnes have been booked from Coimbatore junction and Erode junction for transporting vegetables and eggs to Shalimar and Raipur.
The Salem division is expecting further surge in parcel booking at Coimbatore Junction, Ooty, Pollachi, Tirupur, Erode, Salem and Karur parcel booking offices if the lorry strike continues.
“If consortium of industries, traders and farmers come forward to book a whole goods train with a capacity to carry 400 tonnes (20 wagons), railways is ready. We are even ready with the solution for every customer from one kg to 400 tonnes,” Mr. Vijuvin said.
Traders from Erode had booked a 23 tonnes goods wagon for Raipur to transport perishables such as eggs and vegetables. The wagon would be attached with an express train leaving from Erode in the early hours of Sunday, he added.
Lorry strike had also affected off loading of cargo from wagons thus resulting in stagnation of six goods trains in goods yards at Coimbatore North, Irugur, Tirupur, Karur, Uthukuli and Salem since Friday, the official said.
A wholesale trader from Oddanchatram had booked a 18 tonne goods wagon to Shalimar to transport 18 tonnes of drumstick. This wagon would be attached with Shalimar Express scheduled to depart from Coimbatore junction at 1.25 a.m. on Sunday and reach Shalimar the next day at 1.55 p.m., said Raju P. Thomas, in charge of the parcel booking office at the Coimbatore junction.
