Special goods trains will be operated once again to transport large stocks perishable goods like fruits and vegetables, agri produce from far away agri producing areas to other areas in the country by train after 50 years.
Transport Ministry has issued this directive to the Department of Railways to make arrangements towards this end.
Deploying trains to transport perishable goods could minimise damage to agri produce while moving as compared with that from haulage over rough roads and costs are lower than transport by road.
Rail transport, however, requires extra handling since road transport is needed to and from the rail journey; transport by road alone usually is a door-to-door service.
The Department of Agriculture has decided to use railway services once again for the transportation of agricultural goods, after 50 years, officials said.
The aim of this initiative is to reduce high costs incurred when transporting agricultural goods via main roads, reduce traffic congestion, and minimize environmental pollution, Mahindananga Aluthgamage, the Minister of Agriculture said on Thursday (Oct. 08)
The Minister further noted that under this initiative, fertilizer will be transported directly between Colombo and the Trincomalee port.
Moreover, export products such as vegetables, fruits, and tea will be transported from the Northern, Southern, and Central agricultural lands, to the urban areas.
Compartments with deep freezer facilities will be used for the transportation of fish produce.
Minister Aluthgamage pointed out that at present close to Rs. 650 million is spent on the transportation of government fertilizer stocks annually; by using trains for the transportation of agricultural goods this cost could be reduced by 50%
(LIN)