District Collector O Anand has urged Guntakal Railway Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Chandrasekhar Gupta to examine the feasibility of operating a daily freight train from Tadipatri to major markets in Delhi and to ports in Mumbai, aiming to streamline year-round movement of horticultural produce from Anantapur district.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting held at the Guntakal Railway Divisional Office, where the Collector highlighted the district’s substantial production potential and growing export demand.
Anantapur cultivates major horticultural crops — including sweet lime, banana, mango, pomegranate, and watermelon — across 72,018 hectares, yielding 1,922,282 metric tonnes annually. Of this, 1,070,828 MT are transported to northern states, while 187,104 MT are exported, valued at approximately ₹3,470 crore (US$418 million).
Calling Anantapur’s horticulture sector one with “immense potential,” the Collector noted that 110,324 hectares in the district are under fruit crops, vegetables, spices, flowers, and other horticultural produce. A dedicated daily freight service from Tadipatri, he said, would enhance transport efficiency, cut transit losses, and strengthen export linkages for farmers and traders.
He urged the Railways to prioritise infrastructure that directly supports farmer incomes and large-scale export operations. DRM Chandrasekhar Gupta said the Railways would hold consultations with exporters, traders, and government departments and prepare an action plan to evaluate the proposed dedicated freight service.