A special goods train carrying perishable food items arrived at Tatanagar station from Kalyan in Maharashtra on Thursday evening.

Garlic, ginger, oranges and pomegranates were unloaded on platform number 2 of Tatanagar station.

A total of 70 tons of garlic, ginger, oranges and pomegranate arrived in a special train named Millennium Parcel. For unloading the materials, the contractors engaged 50 labourers.

Chief parcel supervisor, Tatanagar, C. Soren, who was supervising the unloading work, said the unloaded consignments will be kept at the station and traders who had booked them will take them.

“It was for the first time Millennium Parcel arrived at Tatanagar station. On Thursday four items have been despatched. Shortly, more such trips of the special train will follow,” said Soren.

Senior divisional commercial manager, Chakradharpur railway division, Manish Pathak, said the railways had to introduce the special trains to clear the stock of the food items lying at various regions, where these items are produced.

Pathak, when queried, said parcel vans are attached to the express trains and mails and all items, including food items such as fruits and edible oils, are transported through trains.

“But as passenger trains have stopped operating since March 24, the parcel vans in which food and other items are carried, has also stopped before reaching their destinations. As a result, a stockpile of food items is lying idle.

Also, because of no transportation facility, a scarcity of such items has started impacting the society. This was the reason why the government of India introduced the special train,” the senior DCM said.

Pathak said while starting the special trains, the railways has given priority to perishable items and later other materials which are lying dumped at various stations will be carried in its usual pace.