Muz’s ‘Shahi’ litchi begins VIP journeyto Rashtrapati Bhavan, PM’s residence

Patna: Muzaffarpur’s world-famous Shahi litchi is once again making its annual journey from orchards to the highest corridors of power in New Delhi with a special four-tonne consignment destined for President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, other Union ministers and VVIPs.The consignment of 4,000kg of Shahi litchi, prepared by the state govt and the Muzaffarpur district administration, was dispatched to New Delhi in a dedicated cold-chain van on Saturday evening, a horticulture official told TOI on Sunday. Packed in 2,000 boxes of 2kg each, the shipment, is scheduled to reach the national capital on June 2, following which it will be delivered to the residences of the dignitaries.Muzaffarpur DM Subrat Kumar Sen personally supervised the packing process to ensure there was no compromise on quality for the high-profile consignment.“This year, specially certified waterproof boxes, approved by the Indian Institute of Packaging, were used to keep the Litchi fresh for few more days,” an official said.Each box contains around 100 premium Shahi litchis selected on the basis of size and colour. The packaging also carries an attractive sticker featuring the Bihar govt logo and the name of CM Samrat Choudhary. The district administration procured the fruit at approximately Rs 450 per box.“We have established strict quality checks and deployed refrigerated transport to ensure the fruit retains its legendary taste. A team of officials from agriculture and horticulture departments is accompanying the consignment to coordinate distribution seamlessly through Bihar Bhawan in New Delhi,” DM Sen told TOI over the phone on Sunday.Alok Kedia, managing director of a Muzaffarpur-based firm, said his company has been sending litchi consignments for VVIPs in New Delhi on behalf of the Muzaffarpur district administration for the past 17 years.Preparations at orchard level began on May 24. From plucking to sorting and packaging, every stage was carried out under strict quality standards. The Shahi litchis were sourced from premium orchards in Katni, Minapur, Mushahari, Sahebganj, Saraiya and Dholi blocks of Muzaffarpur district.