<span style="color: #222222;">Indian Railways continues to deliver essential commodities like food grains through its freight services to strengthen Government's efforts in managing the challenges and adverse impact of corona virus in the country. <br />''<br />''It introduced innovative ideas and registered record landmarks freight movement during COVID-19 lockdown. Ministry of Railway said that more than 3.2 million tonnes of  food grains have been loaded between 1st April to  16th April this year as compared to 1.29 million tonnes  in the same  corresponding period of last year.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">To ensure delivery of bigger volumes at a faster speed, Indian Railways has innovated by joining two freight trains together.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Northern Railway has formed 5000 tonnes long lead long haul loaded foodgrain trains. 25 such Annapoorna trains have been formed and run by it upto 16th of this month which covered various States. Like Northern Railway, as part of this endeavour, now the South Central Zone too has come up with a unique concept of running "Jai Kisan" Special freight trains so as to ensure speedy delivery of foodgrains to different parts of the country.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Under this concept, two freight trains loaded from two different originating stations are clubbed at the nearest junction point and moved as single train up to the common junction point of the destination stations</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Under normal circumstances, one freight train containing 42 covered wagons loaded with food grains carries around 2600 tonnes. But in the new concept two freight trains means 84 covered wagons with 5200 tonnes capacity food grains will be moved in a single path. This concept drastically reduces the journey time of the freight trains to their destinations.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">A constant coordination for terminal release and labour availability with District Magistrates and SPs at district level, state coordinating officers, and at apex level with Home Ministry is being done by operating officers of Indian Railways. A meticulous prior planning is being done with Food Corporation of India, FCI for arranging destinations as per requirement in states. </span><br />''