Ferozepur: Northern Indian Railways has introduced a new door-to-door logistics service aimed at reducing transport challenges for entrepreneurs. The initiative comes after continuous demands from Punjab’s rice shellers and industrial sectors, who sought a smoother and more reliable cargo movement system. The service, initially launched for rice shellers, is receiving positive feedback, and officials are now preparing to expand it to other industries.
The railways claim that the new service will ease problems related to road congestion, bad weather, truck shortages and high transport costs. Entrepreneurs will benefit from timely dispatches, safer delivery and reduced operational expenses. Bulk loading and unloading through large containers is expected to make long-distance transport more efficient and organised.
Under the new system, entrepreneurs booking containers through the Container Corporation of India will receive complete support from pickup to loading. Railway-arranged trucks will collect goods directly from the manufacturer’s location and transport them safely to the designated container. As soon as the cargo reaches the railway station, it will be placed inside the container and dispatched to its destination without delay. Officials said that the moment a request is made, trucks will be sent to collect the goods and ensure seamless movement.
Businesses often face delays and uncertainties when relying on road transport due to weather conditions, limited truck availability and constant traffic issues. The railways are presenting their service as a cheaper, safer and more dependable alternative. Authorities believe the system will provide industries with guaranteed delivery schedules, lower transport costs, improved safety and a cost-effective solution for long-distance movement. The service is expected to benefit major industrial hubs such as Ludhiana and other large cities where demand for reliable logistics is high.
Officials from the Ferozepur division said the service was launched after rice shellers requested it. The Business Development Unit held discussions with the shellers, assessed their needs and began offering direct station-to-door services. Currently, shellers in Amritsar and Tarn Taran are using the service, gaining significant savings in time and cost. Railway officials credited Senior DCM Freight Manu Garg for effectively implementing the initiative.
During a meeting with representatives of the Rice Mill Association, ten new containers were booked. These containers will be sent to Chennai, with railways lifting goods from the shellers, transporting them by rail and arranging trucks at the destination station to ensure final delivery as requested by the businesses.
