Central Railway's first Kalyan-Howrah parcel train gets a poor response

MUMBAI: Central Railway's plan to run parcel trains has elicited a poor response as the first one carried barely 2.4 tonnes of goods against a capacity of 400 tonnes.
The first train departed from Kalyan to Sankrail in Howrah on April 2.
A senior official said, "The Union government clarified that there is no restriction on movement of essential and non-essential commodities.But the lockdown in the state is so severe that people are unable to reach parcel offices at stations to book parcels."
Another official said, "We will have to work with the state government to make this system work. Either some pass can be issued to those who want to deliver, or a home pick-up service can be made available."
People can send any parcel, including medicines and food to individuals or firms. The concept of a parcel train was brought into practice as movement by road transport has come to a standstill.
The parcel trains run with 20 coaches and one guard-cum-luggage van. Four services are planned between Kalyan and Sankrail, of which one departed on Thursday. They halt at 12 stations to deliver and pick up packages. Two services are planned between Kalyan and Changsari.