New Delhi: Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR), the Ministry of Railways' Public Sector Unit, embarked on its first coastal journey from Kandla Port to Tuticorin Port on January 10. Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Nitin Gadkari flagged off the PSU voyage with the use of remote controls at the Transport Bhawan in the national capital. "The Railways has introduced many new reforms in the last 4.5 years. This is another first in the series of reforms," Goyal said.

At the launch, Railway minister Goyal also announced the production of Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches and target '100 percent electrification' of the Indian Railways.

"We have stopped producing the old model of coaches and started producing only LHB coaches, to eventually replace all old coaches. We have targeted 100 percent electrification over the vast Indian Railways network," Railways minister, Goyal said.

"CONCOR, in addition to first mile and last mile connectivity, will arrange port handling and coastal transportation of loaded/empty containers and bulk/break-bulk cargo between Kandla port to Tuticorin port via Mangalore port & Cochin port. There will be weekly services from Kandla port to Tuticorin port via Mangalore port & Cochin port," a release published by CONCOR, which is engaged in transportation and handling of rail and road containers, said.

Goyal added that the much-awaited Train 18 will begin its maiden journey from Delhi to Varanasi. The train will cover the 750-km route at a maximum speed of 160 kmph. "The new indigenous built Train 18, under Make in India initiative, will soon be flagged off on New Delhi Varanasi route," Goyal said.