Bengaluru: The Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) Saturday launched a new container train service from Whitefield in Bengaluru to Tughlakabad in Delhi. Operated in collaboration with Indian Railways, the service was flagged off by Union minister of state for railways V Somanna from the Inland Container Depot, Whitefield.According to railways, this is the first container train service in south India to offer an assured transit time, giving clients a definite timeline for delivery of goods.Speaking at the launch, Somanna said the service would benefit industries in Karnataka by significantly reducing goods transit time. “The total journey is about 2,500km, and an assured transit time of 166 hours has been provided. This is about 30% less than the present transit time,” he said.The train will operate from Whitefield Terminal to Tughlakabad via Chennai every Saturday. Containers from Bengaluru will first reach Tondiarpet in Chennai, which will serve as an aggregation hub. Containers bound for Delhi will be combined there before being sent onward to Tughlakabad.Railways said the service will provide major industrial centres in south India a reliable and cost-effective transport link to the large consumer market in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). It is likely to benefit industrial areas and corridors including Hoskote, Whitefield, Malur, Bommasandra, Electronics City, Bidadi, Jigani, Anekal, Attibele, Dabaspet, Devanahalli, Peenya, Nelamangala, Hirehalli, Kunigal, Antharasana Halli, Vasanthanarasapura and the Mysuru corridor.Somanna added that Tumakuru would also benefit through Vasanthanarasapura, a major industrial area in the state. “At present, Tumakuru can benefit from this service through road bridging arrangements. In future, after the container terminal at Thimmanahalli is developed, cargo services will be operated directly from Tumakuru to Tughlakabad in Delhi,” he explained.
