Doodh Duronto trains from Tirupati cross 4-cr mark of supplying milk to Delhi

TIRUPATI: Doodh Duronto special trains, introduced during the lockdown period between Renigunta and Hazarat Nizamuddin for transporting milk to fulfil the needs of the country’s capital, have crossed the 4-crore-litre mark of supplying milk to Delhi on Thursday.

Prior to the lockdown, milk from Renigunta used to be transported to New Delhi through milk tankers, which were attached to mail and express trains. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, all these trains had got cancelled, resulting in heavy shortage of milk in the national capital.

Following this, South Central Railway (SCR) came up with the initiative of running Doodh Duronto as a special milk train from March 26, 2020. The train runs on par with mail and express trains, covering a distance of 2,300 km between Renigunta and H. Nizamuddin within 34 hours.

Milk transported by this special train is being collected from more than 3,000 points spread over 13,000 villages in and around Chittoor district. The train, which ran only on alternate days, started operating daily from July 15, 2020. The train runs with six milk tankers, with each tank having a capacity of 40,000 litres, totalling to 2.4 lakh litres per train. So far, Doodh Duronto special trains have made 167 trips, transporting 4-crore litres milk, a record of sorts.
SCR general manager Gajanan Mallya has appreciated consistent efforts of staff and officers of Guntakal division for mobilising milk that caters to the needs of nation’s capital. As a result, there has been neither shortage of milk nor hike in prices of the commodity in Delhi.

SCR is contemplating to continue Doodh Duronto specials. Sources in National Dairy Development Board say, in addition, special trains could also be run to other states where there is demand for milk. Andhra Pradesh is capable of supplying additional milk with its four huge milk grids at Thamballapalle, Srikalahasti, Satyavedu and Nagari, where milk can be stored and preserved.