Western Railway has flagged off the first freight train carrying cumin seeds from Mehsana in Gujarat to Azara in Assam, marking a new step in streamlining long-distance agricultural cargo movement across India.
The special rake was launched to facilitate faster and more efficient transportation of cumin seeds from key producing regions in Gujarat to markets and distribution centres in Northeast India. Railway officials said the initiative is expected to reduce transit time, improve cargo safety, and lower logistics costs for traders.
Industry sources noted that cumin seed exports and domestic trade have witnessed growing demand in recent years, increasing the need for reliable bulk transportation solutions. Rail-based movement is also seen as a cost-effective alternative to long-haul road transport for agricultural commodities.
Officials said the dedicated freight movement will help strengthen connectivity between western agricultural production hubs and consumption markets in the Northeast while supporting the government’s multimodal logistics and freight diversification efforts.
The train is expected to improve supply chain efficiency for spice traders and reduce handling-related losses during transit. Traders also said the move could encourage greater use of railways for transporting other agricultural commodities in the future.
Western Railway continues to focus on expanding freight services for agri-products through specialised cargo initiatives aimed at supporting farmers, traders, and exporters across the country.
