ShareRefrigerated rail transport of fruits in India
1000 tonnes of imported fresh fruits reached Bengaluru (India) on refrigerated train.
Earlier this summer, India has taken a significant step towards a more efficient delivery of produce to its population. For the first time, a container train with 1012 tonnes of apples, kiwifruit, apricots and cherries imported from Brazil, Iran and Europe reached Bengaluru. Transportation of fresh fruit in the country is usually done by road transport. The Reefer Special operated by Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR), a public sector unit under Indian Railways, had 44 refrigerated containers with each one bearing 23 tonnes of fruit. Each of these cold storage containers was 40 feet (about 12 m) long and can maintain a temperature between 0°C and 2°C. A staff member was responsible for monitoring the temperature conditions throughout the journey.
Along with reducing the high dependency on road transport, this endeavour should also ensure profitability and growth across many sectors. The first trip earned CONCOR a revenue of Rs 2 521 000 (about 33 976 USD). According to a CONCOR executive, the group plans on organising one such Reefer Special every week. There is a huge demand for fruit from abroad and Bengaluru will now serve as a hub to distribute them across several regions.
Sources
http://www.fruitnet.com/asiafruit/article/185447/ig-international-sends-fresh-fruit-via-rail