Patna: In a major boost for farmers and fruit traders, the railways has deployed 28 trains to transport the renowned Muzaffarpur litchi across the country. Falling under the Sonepur division of the East Central Railway (ECR), Muzaffarpur station is now dispatching approximately 22 tonnes of litchis daily.

This has been made possible through the addition of specialised parcel vans to regular passenger trains, ensuring faster and more efficient delivery of the highly perishable fruit.Sonepur divisional railway manager (DRM) Vivek Bhushan Sood said the railways is transporting an impressive 110 tonnes of litchis daily from various parts of the ECR zone to major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Howrah."A dedicated litchi parcel office has also been set up at Muzaffarpur station for the convenience of farmers and traders. It offers digital payment options and lower parcel booking rates, easing the process for local growers and businessmen," he said.In addition, a 24x7 helpline number allows litchi farmers to coordinate directly with railway staff, ensuring smooth logistics and timely dispatches from Muzaffarpur station.

According to Sonepur senior divisional commercial manager Raushan Kumar, this initiative not only aids in preserving the quality of the perishable fruit but also reduces transit time and cost, enhancing profitability for the farming community.