Surat Traders Seek Parcel Trains To Beat Diwali Rush

Surat’s textile traders have urged railway authorities to run at least two parcel trains a week to other states as festive demand gathers pace, saying regular services would cut freight costs and help shipments reach buyers on time.

At a meeting with railway officials and the Surat Textile Goods Transport Association, traders flagged delays, cargo security concerns and irregular parcel services. Limited rail connectivity, they said, was forcing businesses to depend heavily on road transport during the busy trading season.

“One goods train can carry around 40 truckloads of material and deliver it much earlier than road transport. Further, the cost is around 50% less than road transport,” said Dinesh Katariya, secretary of the Federation of Surat Trade and Textile Associations (FOSTTA).

Traders also sought a tracking system for rail consignments and better facilities to load and unload textile parcels. Scheduled services, they said, would make dispatches more predictable and ease pressure on road transportation.

“We have also requested railway officials to provide basic infrastructure and operational convenience for transporters to load and unload parcels from trains. Last year, goods trains were allotted for textile parcel transport and received a good response, but the services were discontinued,” Katariya added.

Railway officials assured traders that their demands would be taken up with higher authorities.

Road transport concerns also figured in the discussions. FOSTTA urged transporters to issue truck receipts through digital systems so traders could receive documents promptly and complete delivery formalities without delays.

The association flagged cases of return freight being charged at three to four times the original rate and asked traders to report such instances. Transport representatives advised traders to insure consignments against loss or accidents and said efforts would be made to introduce tracking facilities for road shipments.