Ro-Ro service by Indian Railways proves beneficial for transporters

Surat, September 24: In a new call of action, the Indian Railways started the Roll On-Roll Off (RO-RO) service carrying trucks that supply goods on Central and Western Railway on a commercial basis. The first rake started its journey on September 20 from Konkan railway’s Surathkal goods shed in Karnataka and reached the Western Railway’s Karambeli goods shed in Gujarat on September 21, late evening.

The RO-RO rake consists of 25 trucks loaded with an approximate haulage charge of Rs 1.81 lakhs. The rake will be unloaded and be reloaded with trucks from the Karambeli goods shed. It will cover a total distance of 290 kilometers. It comprised of construction materials, drum oil, stone powder, tiles, sheets, glucose bottles, medicines, tire powder, lime powder, paints, marbles etc.

Apart from that this initiative will also decrease the burden on highways. It will save toll tax and fuel expenses for the transporters. It is ought to be one of the environment-friendly modes of transport.

This eco-friendly gesture of the Indian Railways has taken with a view to check pollution; reduce fuel consumption and road congestion. The Railway Board has also asked Western and Central Railway to explore the feasibility of the running RO-RO services from JNPT, where over 5,000 trucks ply in and out of the port every day.