Parliament Question: Kisan Rail Circuits

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3007 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026 KISAN RAIL CIRCUITS

3007. SHRI KESINENI SIVANATH:

SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the number of consultations held by the Government during the last two years with State Governments to identify potential Kisan Rail circuits with specific details for Andhra Pradesh;

(b) the details of the number of potential Kisan Rail circuits identified through such consultations along with their route alignments and commodities proposed to be transported, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government has conducted any operational and financial feasibility studies for the identified circuits and if so, the details of the findings and if not, the reasons for not undertaking such feasible studies;

(d) whether any Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are under preparation for the proposed Kisan Rail circuits and if so, the details of the same, State-wise; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (e): Kisan Rail trains have been introduced by Indian Railways – to move perishables including fruits and vegetables from production or surplus regions to consumption or deficient regions. Since its launch in August 2020, a total of 2,364 Kisan Rail services have operated on 167 routes across various states including 116 outward services from Andhra Pradesh.

§Potential circuits of Kisan Rail are identified in consultation with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Fisheries Departments of State Governments as well as local bodies and agencies, Mandis etc., and services at applicable tariff are planned on the basis of demands placed and the operational feasibility.

Besides, Business Development Units functional at all Railway Divisions are engaging with various stakeholders to assess the business requirement including transportation of perishables which can also be seasonal and need based. In the recent past, consultations were held by Railway Authorities with Government of Andhra Pradesh, officials of CONCOR and with District Administration of Ananthapuram for transportation of bananas from Tadipatri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).

A Detailed project Report (DPR) on Kisan Rail was submitted by M/s RITES in July 2021 which was shared with all Zonal railways and other stakeholder Ministries. *****