Indian Railways have operated 1,586 Kisan Rail services
Since the launch of the first Kisan Rail service on August 7, 2020, and up to November 19, 2021, Indian Railways have operated 1,586 Kisan Rail services, transporting approximately 5.2 lakh tonnes of perishables including onion, banana, potato, garlic, pomegranate, oranges, capsicum, cabbage, cauliflower, and other fruits and vegetables. These services have operated from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The information was given by Union Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
Kisan Rail trains were introduced by Indian Railways to enable speedy movement of perishables including fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fishery and dairy products from the production of surplus regions to consumption or deficient regions. The services are timetabled as well as demand-based.
Potential circuits for movement of Kisan Rail services are identified in consultation with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Fisheries Departments of State Governments as well as local bodies and agencies, mandis etc., and based on demand, rakes are provided on priority for running of Kisan Rail services.
