Unique train for mango in Chapainawabganj-Dhaka route likely from May 25
The West Zone of Bangladesh Railway will probably launch a 'special mango train' on Chapainawabganj-Dhaka route via Rajshahi from May 25.
"We have taken your choice of transporting mango to Dhaka out of this producing area for the benefit for the growers and traders," Nasir Uddin, Divisional Commercial Manager of the zone, said, illustrating aspects of the decision.
He said the initiative has also been taken up to transport mangoes better value for welfare of the mango traders and farmers amid the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
The train will depart Chapainawabganj at 4:30pm and Rajshahi station at 5:50pm and can reach Dhaka at 2:00am.
The cargo train will carry a maximum 150 tonnes of mangoes in five wagons each day. Hence, farmers and traders can transport goods at their will. You will be charged Tk 1.17 to transport a good kilogram of mango to Dhaka from Rajshahi. And it is Tk 1.30 from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka.
Nasir Uddin clarified that transport of mangoes in the special coach would cost Tk 1,117 per tonne whereas courier services cost Tk 20,000 per tonne and private trucks cost around Tk 2,000 a good tonne.
The train will make a stoppage for loading mangoes at 14 stations on the Chapainawabgonj-Dhaka railway route via Rajshahi. The parcel teach may possess stoppages at other stations based on parcel booking and unloading.
Furthermore to mango, there is provision of carrying all sorts of vegetables, seasonal fruits, eggs and other agricultural products in less cost in the special train, he added.
The railway porters will conduct all sorts of the loading and unloading works of the goods. To this end, the porters had been imparted need-based training on how to handle the products from reserving to loading aswell to unloading properly.
This past year, the Mango Distinctive Train premiered for the very first time in the wake of growers' transportation problems amid the Covid-19 pandemic. "We've acquired Tk 9.30 lakh income by transporting 857 tonnes of mango, lychee and other agricultural items," Nasir Uddin added.
Officials said mango was first cultivated on 26,150 hectares of areas in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts where it's expected to yield 2,44,000 tonnes of mangoes this season.
Mango orchards were as well nurtured on 12,671 hectares of land found in Naogaon district where the target was first fixed to produce 1,61,242 tonnes of mangoes while Natore district is likely to make 56,021 tonnes of mangoes on 4,823 hectares of land.
