Loading of onion exports from Gujarat to Bangladesh starts

Western Railway had set up multi-disciplinary Business Development Units (BDU) at the zonal level as well as at all its six divisions. These BDU's target is to improve business prospect in freight marketing by incorporating new ideas and initiatives.

Rajkot: In a bid to give a boost to freight traffic, Western Railway had set up multi-disciplinary Business Development Units (BDU) at the zonal level as well as at all its six divisions.

These BDU's target is to improve business prospect in freight marketing by incorporating new ideas and initiatives. Multi-disciplinary Business Development Units which have been set up by Western Railway aims at doubling the freight carried by railways by 2024 by attracting additional traffic of non-bulk traditional commodities hitherto moved by road.

In continuation of this, the first tangible success of BDU was achieved by Bhavnagar division of Western Rly. Constant marketing efforts and interactions by this BDU with APMCs & onion merchants located in Dhoraji, Upleta and Gondal area yielded success with first-ever onion rake loading from Dhoraji to Bangladesh (Darshana) on 3rd August 2020.

Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Rly informed that the distance from Dhoraji to Darshana is 2437 km. Dhoraji station was made fit for loading by undertaking some earthwork as suggested by a team of Operating, commercial and engineering supervisors and also inputs from loading party in a short time.

Dhoraji station got opened for loading in the least possible time. Advance Rate Notification was issued on 01/8/2020, indent was registered on 02/8/2020 for Darshana (Bangladesh) & rake has been supplied on 03/8/2020 and the loading got underway. It is worth mentioning that this is new traffic for Bhavnagar division, generating revenue of about Rs 46 Lakhs and around 3-4 rakes are likely to be loaded in this month.

He further added that, since 22nd March 2020, total 10,963 rakes of goods trains were loaded till 2nd Aug 2020. Loading in these 10,963 rakes included various essential commodities such as POL - 1172, Fertilizers - 1886, Salt - 593, Foodgrain- 110, Cement - 860, Coal - 429, Containers – 5138 & General Goods - 51 rakes, totaling to 22.45 Million Tonnes.