After Punjab Push, Centre to Run Special Trains for 155 LMT Grain Lifting: Bhagwant Singh Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday said the Centre has agreed to run special trains to lift nearly 155 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat and rice from the state, offering major relief amid an acute storage crisis ahead of the Rabi season .

The development came after Mann met Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi and strongly pressed for urgent intervention to expedite the movement of foodgrains . Facing mounting pressure due to overflowing stocks , the Punjab government had sought immediate logistical support , including additional railway rakes.

Responding to the state’s concerns, the Centre agreed to deploy special trains to accelerate the lifting of foodgrains. The move is expected to ease congestion in mandis , create space in already packed godowns , and ensure smooth procurement of wheat during the ongoing Rabi marketing season.

Punjab is currently grappling with a severe shortage of storage capacity , with most covered godowns already filled. The state expects wheat procurement to reach around 130–132 LMT this season, further intensifying the need for swift evacuation of existing stocks.

Highlighting the urgency, Mann pointed out that the current pace of foodgrain lifting—around 5 LMT per month—is inadequate. He had urged the Centre to increase it to at least 12 LMT per month to prevent bottlenecks and avoid storage in open spaces, which could risk damage to grains.

Apart from the grain movement issue, the chief minister raised several financial concerns. He flagged pending dues of nearly Rs 9,000 crore under the Rural Development Fund and sought their early release. The Union minister assured that a secretary-level meeting would soon be convened to resolve the matter.

Mann also highlighted that Punjab is being charged a higher interest rate on cash credit compared to the Centre, resulting in financial losses for the state. He demanded that interest rates be made uniform to reduce the fiscal burden during procurement operations.

The chief minister further urged the Centre to send a team to assess crop damage caused by recent hailstorms and provide compensation to affected farmers. He also raised the issue of commission for arthiyas , expressing hope for an increase of about Rs 4.75 per quintal for wheat and paddy.

According to an official statement, the Centre responded positively to the issues raised by Punjab and assured necessary action. The approval for special trains, in particular, is being seen as a timely intervention that will help stabilise procurement operations and safeguard farmers’ interests during the peak harvesting season.