Chiku Train Express: A Boon for South Gujarat Farmers Ahead of Elections

Navsari : In a move aimed at appeasing farmers in South Gujarat ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Indian Railways has launched a dedicated freight train service to transport Chiku (sapota) directly from the region to Delhi. This initiative, flagged off at the New Ancheli station on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) near Navsari, marks a significant step towards reducing post-harvest losses and improving the livelihoods of Chiku farmers in the region.

The inaugural train departed with 15 bogies carrying a total of 350 tonnes of Chiku, sourced from 10 mandis (local markets) and one Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in the Navsari-Gandevi area. This taluka, renowned for its high-quality Chiku production, traditionally relies on trucks to transport its harvest to markets across North India, particularly Delhi. However, this journey typically takes 32-34 hours, leading to spoilage and significant financial losses for farmers.

The introduction of the Chiku train service on the WDFC promises to revolutionize the transportation of this perishable fruit. By leveraging the high-speed corridor, the travel time to Delhi will be slashed to just 24 hours, ensuring the freshness of the produce upon arrival. This initiative follows successful trials conducted on the Mumbai-Dadri freight corridor, paving the way for a more efficient and cost-effective transportation solution for Chiku farmers.

The new train service, operating three days a week, is expected to offer farmers significant cost benefits compared to traditional trucking methods. This, coupled with the reduced risk of spoilage, has the potential to significantly boost the income of Chiku growers in South Gujarat. With the Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, the launch of this dedicated train service is seen as a strategic move by the government to address the concerns of farmers and garner their support in the upcoming polls.