The Hindu Business Line : Industry upbeat on Lalu's plans

CORPORATE India was upbeat on several proposals in this year's Railway Budget. The dairy industry was especially happy on the proposal to reduce the haulage charges for privately-owned rail milk tankers by Rs 4 per vehicle-kilometre to Rs 20.

The General Manager (Marketing) for Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), Mr R.S. Sodhi, said, "This freight reduction will encourage us to begin transporting more milk via the Railways. At present, of the total 5.5 lakh litres of milk GCMMF transports outside Gujarat to other States, only 50,000 litres is sent through railto Kolkata."

He said at present, the cost of transporting milk from Gujarat to Kolkata - through railways or by road - comes to about Rs 2.50 per litre, but this cost will come down once the new haulage charges come into effect.

Also, another heartening aspect of the Budget for the dairy industry is the Railway Minister's support in opening outlets of milk and milk products at stations. Mr Sodhi said that by removing the condition, which needed co-operatives to go through the normal bidding process for setting up these outlets, local co-operatives will get a chance to sell their products at railway stations.

While Steel Authority of India Ltd expressed happiness over unchanged tariffs this time, conventional cargo transport company, Transport Corporation of India Ltd, welcomed the proposal to disband the monopoly of Concor and allow private players in container transportation by rail.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators' President, Mr Subhash Goyal, termed the Budget "most tourist-friendly". He said it had served the cause of tourism, by not only keeping rail ticket rates unchanged but also by initiating steps to start new trains, extend some to new destinations and modernise railways.

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