Rail service to debut with rice transportation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 04 2010: In addition to transporting the required rice by trucks through the National Highways, for the first time, rice quota of the State would be transported by train upto FCI godown at Jiribam starting from August 6 .

FCI has also agreed to bear the additional expenditure that would be required for transportation of rice by train in public interest.

Talking to The Sangai Express in this connection, FCI Imphal Area Manager Dr S James informed that the first consignment of 1342 metric tonne of rice would be brought to FCI godown at Jiribam by train in 22 bogies along the metre gauge rail line.

The arrangement has been made to solve the problem of food shortage in Manipur after the recent visit made by a high level official team led by Border Management Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, AE Ahmad to the State.

By train to Jiribam will be smooth, the problem lies here on NH-53-File pic

Dr James conveyed that information have been received that 136 trucks loaded with rice from the Food Storage Depot of FCI at New Guwahati have left for FCI godown at Jiribam over the last two days while others are following suit.

It is learnt that the FCI godown at Jiribam has a storing capacity of 2500 metric tonne of rice and there are 524 metric tonne of Super Fine Grade-A rice in the opening balance of the godown today.

When train service is started for transportation of rice in addition to the rice being brought and deposited by the trucks, the FCI godown at Jiribam would soon be able keep rice in buffer stock very soon, Dr James assured.

The only difficulty in bringing the rice to Imphal would be the condition of National-Highway 53, he added.

The Area Manager further informed that over and above 68 metric tonne of rice which are present at FCI godown, Sangaiprou, eight rice-laden trucks arrived through National Highway 39 on August 3.At the Ukhrul FCI godown , there are 2392 metric tonne of rice presently and four rice laden trucks that came through Jessami Road reached Ukhrul today.

Dr James conveyed that in consideration of the loss suffered by the transporters in lifting rice from Ramnagar and Guwahati through National Highway 53, FCI has agreed to bear the additional expenses incurred in bringing the rice upto FCI godown at Sangaiprou in public interest.

So, under the revised rate, for one trip each of the truck would be receiving above Rs 40,000 as transportation charge.

This is inclusive of Rs 5,000 to be given by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh.

Earlier, the transportation charge was around Rs 20,000 for each truck.