In a strategic move that will significantly strengthen trade connectivity between the north-eastern and northern parts of the country, Indian Railways has launched a weekly Parcel Cargo Express Train (PCET) service connecting Agartala, the capital of Tripura, to the industrial city of Ludhiana in the state of Punjab. This new rail line aims to overcome logistics challenges, boost trade and promote sustainable transport solutions in the region.
Revolutionizing Regional Connectivity with New Freight Corridor
The newly launched PCET service will cover a long distance of 2.768 kilometres in total, completing the journey in an impressive 90 hours. The train will initially have a cargo carrying capacity of 364 tonnes, with plans to gradually increase this capacity to 484 tonnes over the next six months. This capacity increase reflects the aim of responding to the increasing trade volume and attracting more freight to the rail network.
The operational planning for the project envisages a total of 313 trips over a period of six years. This translates to an average of four round trips per month. Indian Railways expects this new service to generate revenues of approximately ₹198 crore (approximately US$23,8 million) by meeting the growing demand for efficient and sustainable freight transportation solutions. This revenue expectation demonstrates the potential of the project to create an economically sustainable model.
Effective Solution to the Northeast's Logistics Challenges
This new PCET service aims to provide a direct solution to the critical logistics challenges that the northeastern region of India has been facing for a long time. It will significantly ease the transportation of various products like tea, bamboo, mosquito repellents, plastic granules and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) from Agartala to other parts of the country. Similarly, it will make imports of goods like electronic goods, socks, bicycles, sanitary products and white goods from northern industrial hubs like Ludhiana and Delhi to the northeast more efficient.
With this reliable and environment-friendly transportation option, Indian Railways aims to promote climate-sensitive logistics and reduce over-dependence on road freight transport. Considering the traffic congestion, rising fuel costs and environmental impact caused by road transport, the potential benefits of rail transport in this area are immense.
Contribution to Regional Trade and Sustainable Development
The new PCET service is expected to provide significant economic benefits to rural producers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the north-eastern states of Tripura and Assam by providing access to larger and potentially more profitable markets in northern India. The efficient transportation of perishable agricultural products, particularly pineapple and areca nut, is expected to significantly increase income generation in agriculture and allied sectors. This development is also well-aligned with national development efforts to reduce regional economic disparities and expand trade networks across different parts of the country.
The replacement of large numbers of trucks on the road with rail transport is one of the main objectives of the initiative, which aims to reduce traffic congestion on the road and reduce dependence on fossil fuel consumption. The success of the service will be closely monitored through the optimization of the volume of cargo transported and the efficiency of train turnaround times. It is expected that all stakeholders in the logistics value chain will welcome this progressive step.
Emphasis on Sustainability in Global Supply Chains
In an era when global supply chains are being re-evaluated for sustainability and operational efficiency, this new freight service by Indian Railways between Agartala and Ludhiana stands as a tangible demonstration of the country’s commitment to building a resilient, environmentally sound and future-ready logistics network. Such initiatives can play a critical role in achieving India’s economic growth targets and increasing its competitiveness in global trade.
Future Prospects and Potential Expansion
This important step by Indian Railways can significantly contribute to increasing trade and economic interaction between the north-east and north India. If the service is successful, it can be expected that similar freight corridors will be implemented in other parts of the country and the share of rail transport in the logistics sector will be significantly increased. This will play a critical role in achieving India’s sustainable development goals and creating an environmentally friendly transportation infrastructure.
