Need to focus on growth of parcel business for benefit of small businesses: Rail Minister
By TIOL News Service
NEW DELHI, DEC 23, 2020: RAILWAY Minister Mr Piyush Goyal directed officials to focus on growing the parcel business which is important for small traders and businessmen, and making the parcel services through the national transporter more customer-friendly.
“Immediate steps need to be taken to increase the production of LHB (Linke Hoffman Busch) parcel vans, and to introduce e-payment and digital payment facilities,” he said, while reviewing the parcel business with Railway Board officials on Tuesday.
The Rail Minister also directed that adequate steps must to taken to facilitate movement of traffic from the northeastern region and hill states, and also to attract export traffic going towards ports.
"Parcel special trains must be run punctually so that customers gain confidence to use these services," he added.
The minister appreciated the efforts made by the Indian Railways in the last few months to attract more business by running Kisan Rail trains, granting discounts in sectors where parcel vans were returning empty, opening all goods-sheds, and starting a parcel train for export traffic to Bangladesh.
“Railways shall aim for steep growth in parcel business, and more efforts and innovative ideas are required to bring the desired growth,” Mr Goyal emphasised.
The Indian Railways is also planning to develop dedicated parcel terminals to make handling of parcel consignments easier for the parties, and Sangola (Central Railway), Kacheguda (South Central Railway), Coimbatore (Southern Railway), and Kankariya (Western Railway) have already been identified for development as a pilot project.