The railway department will bring a new scheme to start business at railway terminals. The ‘Service Market at Rail Terminals’ (Smart) scheme will be launched to select goods sheds and start business there. Private investments will be invited by setting up service markets at railway terminals. This means that service providers are provided with the opportunity to deliver goods directly to consumers at goods sheds.
The Walther Division under the East Coast Railway in UP will construct goods sheds at five locations. The construction of goods sheds will be held in Kantakapalli, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Bobbili and Visakhapatnam in Uttarananda.
Service providers who want to market the service through smart scheme will transport their goods to the goods sheds through rail transport. There is a chance to market directly to consumers. Rail transport prices have already become cheaper than road transport. Cheap consumers are likely to provide goods.
Service providers must enter their company name or personal details through Freight Operations and Information System (FOIS) if they want to market through goods sheds. Any user can contact the service provider directly through a smart scheme. It is beneficial for trucks, logistics traders and consumers who use rail transport.
South Central Railway has set up business development units in all divisions last year. The key to freight transportation is to share these Bidus and earn revenue. Farmers and small traders are also getting good prices for their products by transporting goods through railway wagons to other states. Last year, the railways received rs 2,600 crore from AP through freight. Most of the cargo is involved in freight from Krishnapatnam and Kakinada ports.
