Special train to carry vegetables, fruits and flowers from Nanu-Oya | Daily News

Special train to carry vegetables, fruits and flowers from Nanu-Oya

Transporting of vegetables from upcountry areas to Colombo Fort by train commenced yesterday afternoon (27) after a 23 year hiatus.

According to a proposal submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the interim budget presented to the Parliament recently, five special   compartments have been prepared for transporting vegetables by train by the Railway Department’s Sales and Marketing Division.

Vegetables being loaded at the Nanu-Oya Station to the train.
Picture by Ranjith Rajapakse in Hatton

As a pilot project, the transportation of vegetables from the Nanu-Oya railway station to Colombo Fort started at 5 pm yesterday and the special train is scheduled to reach Colombo Fort at 12 midnight.

Railway Department’s Sales and Marketing Department Deputy Director Asanka Samarasinghe said the train will transport vegetables to the super markets and the Manning Market in Colombo.

He said this will also save fuel when transporting vegetables and fruits and that the train will continue to operate from January after the shortcomings are sorted.

Vegetables, flowers and fruits grown in the upcountry areas are expected to be transported by this special train. Besides Nuwara Eliya, vegetables, fruits and flowers grown in Bandarawela and Welimada areas are expected to be transported, and vegetables and fruits delivered for transportation from Nanu-Oya railway station to all railway stations. The station master further said that when the train is running from Colombo Fort to Nanu-Oya food items will also be carried as well.


 

 


Add new comment