Chandigarh, Aug 27 (KNN) We are contemplating having our goods train, which can be deployed to export goods from the state to other states in the country ,” said Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday.

While addressing the event organised by Assocham in association with the state government, Mann said that the nearest port from Punjab is Kandla Port. A truck charges around Rs 25,000 for transporting export goods from Punjab to the port. If the state has its own goods trains, this will help save the precious working capital of exporters and importers as it is likely to bring down the transportation cost by at least 50 per cent.

This move by the Punjab government will make it the first state in the country to have its own goods trains to transport goods meant for export and import. 

As per reports, each train will cost around Rs 350 crore. 

According to AS Mittal, Chairman, Assocham, North Region Development Council, and Vice-Chairman, International Tractors Ltd, a major constraint for Punjab is its location and distance from seaports,which in return has a crippling impact on industrial growth. 

He said the state manufacturing sector needed a level-playing field to compete with manufacturing industrial clusters of southern and western coastal line states, which reap the benefits of near-port location.

“ The government must own freight trains (either solely or in the PPP mode) to boost the state industry by minimising rail freight burden from dry ports to seaports and vice versa,” he added.

At the event, Mann once again assured the industries that the state government is working to create a conducive environment for them to grow.  (KNN Bureau)