For the first time Indian Railways loads Special Parcel Train to Bangladesh
For the first time Indian Railways loads Special Parcel Train to Bangladesh
Railways focusing on efficient and customised freight operations
Dry Chillies from Reddipalem (Guntur)Transported to Benapole (Bangladesh)
For the first time the Indian Railways, loaded special Parcel train beyond the country borders to Benapole in Bangladesh with Dry Chillies from Reddipalem in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh state.
Guntur and its surrounding areas in the state of Andhra Pradesh are well known for Chillies cultivation. The quality of this farm produce is internationally renewed for its uniqueness in taste and brand. Earlier, the farmers and merchants in and around Guntur area have been transporting Dry Chillies by road to Bangladesh in small quantities and that was costing around Rs 7000 per tonne. During the lockdown period, they could not move this essential commodity by Road. Then Railway staff and Officials approached the consignors and explained the facilities to transport by Rail. Accordingly, they have moved the Dry Chillies by Rail in bulk through goods trains. But for moving the consignment by Goods trains, it is mandatory for the farmers and merchants to mobilise the quantity in bulk i.e. at least more than 1500 tonnes in each trip.
To mitigate this problem and to facilitate the Rail users to move their quantities in smalls i.e., up to a maximum of 500 tonnes in each trip, Guntur Division of South Central Railway took the initiative and moved the Special Parcel Express to Bangladesh. This has helped the farmers and merchants of Guntur to market their farm produce beyond the country border by transporting the Dry Chillies in small quantities through Special Parcel Express.
Accordingly, one Special Parcel Express train consisting of 16 Parcel Van moved to Benapole in Bangladesh. Each Parcel Van was loaded with 466 Dry Chillies bags, weighing around 19.9 Tonnes and the total weight carried by the Special Parcel Express is around 384 Tonnes. The cost per tonne for carrying by Special Parcel Express is Rs. 4,608 and which is very cheap and economical as compared to Road transport which is amounting to Rs. 7,000 per tonne.
It may be noted that Indian Railways has taken a series of steps to boost parcel train traffic during the Covid period.
Transportation of essential items like medical supplies, medical equipment, food, etc in small parcel sizes are a very important items that needed for business as well as consumption purposes. In order to fill in this vital need, Indian Railways has made railway parcel vans available for quick mass transportation by E-Commerce entities and other customers including State governments. Railways has been running time-tabled Parcel Special trains on select routes, to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential items.
The total of 4434 parcel trains have run 22.03.2025 till 11.07.2025,out of which 4,304 have been time-tabled trains.
Here’s the verified information about the first-ever special parcel train loaded by Indian Railways bound for Bangladesh:
Contents
🚆 Historic Parcel Train to Bangladesh — July 2025
- In July 2025, Indian Railways dispatched its first international parcel train to Benapole in Bangladesh, carrying dry chillies from Reddypalem (Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh). This marked the first time IR ran a parcel service across the border
- The Special Parcel Express (SPE) consisted of 16 high-capacity parcel vans, transporting approximately 384 tonnes of red chillies (around 466 bags per van, ~19.9 t each) over a distance of ~1,372 km to reach Benapole
- The cost of transport by rail was significantly lower—estimated at ₹4,608 per tonne, compared to ₹7,000 per tonne via road, offering major savings to farmers and traders in Guntur
🎯 Why It Was a Significant Step
- Response to COVID‑19 disruption: Road cargo routes were severely restricted. Railways stepped in to ensure supply chains remained functional, enabling export of key commodities amid lockdown-induced road transport breakdowns
- Bulk movement with flexibility: Normally, rail requires large consignments of 1,500+ tonnes. Guntur Division devised a scheme allowing shipments as small as ~500 tonnes per trip, thus enabling smaller traders and farmers to participate
- Policy & export facilitation: The move was heralded as a breakthrough by Indian diplomats. It also paved the way for broader use of parcel-style exports via rail to Bangladesh and possibly other neighboring markets
📋 Summary Table
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Service Type | Special parcel train |
| Date | July 2025 |
| Route | Reddypalem (Guntur) → Benapole (Bangladesh) |
| Commodity | Dry red chilli (~384 tonnes) |
| Capacity | 16 parcel vans (~466 bags/van) |
| Transport cost by rail | ₹4,608/tonne (vs ₹7,000+ via road) |
| Purpose | Maintain exports during lockdown; support traders |
✅ Key Takeaway
Indian Railways, for the first time ever, successfully loaded and dispatched a special parcel train beyond Indian borders, into Bangladesh—marking a milestone in cross-border freight service. The cargo comprised locally grown chillies carried via 16 parcel vans to Benapole station, enabling cost-effective and reliable movement during COVID‑19 constraints
Would you like insight into how this initiative expanded afterward—such as additional cross-border cargo shipments—or how future parcel train schemes evolved in terms of commodities, routes, or export logistics?