The Indian government has agreed to operate special trains for lifting wheat and rice from Punjab, as announced by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann following a meeting with Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi. The decision comes amid concerns over storage capacity, with approximately 155 lakh metric tonnes of grain stock awaiting evacuation. Punjab's current storage levels stand at 180.88 lakh metric tonnes, which is close to its maximum capacity of 183 lakh metric tonnes. Mann emphasized the need for quicker evacuation, especially as fresh wheat arrivals are increasing, potentially leading to a storage crisis. He called for a significant increase in the monthly lifting rate to avoid disruptions during the procurement season, where wheat purchases are expected to reach 130-132 lakh metric tonnes. Additional issues discussed included financial burdens related to procurement financing and the release of ₹9,000 crore from the Rural Development Fund for infrastructure improvements. Mann also requested central intervention for assessing crop damage due to recent hailstorms and raised concerns regarding commission rates for procurement agents.