The Hindu Business Line : Railways announces freight sops

The move is expected to benefit cement, iron and steel and petroleum companies, among others. Moreover, it has also increased the free time allotted to users during train loading and unloading by one to two hours depending on the type of wagon used.

A rebate of 20 per cent will accrue to those goods that are charged at class 140 or above when they are being transported on notified empty flow directions, said the Union Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad. This, however, excludes minerals, coal and raw materials being transported to steel plants. Empty flow directions are those routes where wagons do not find return traffic load and thus do not earn the Railways any revenues.

"Rakes moving to the North East and East do not find return flow traffic," said an official.

Moreover, the same group of commodities has also been extended a 15 per cent rebate on the incremental loading during the lean period — from July 1 to September 30. Importantly, the rebate will be applicable only on that quantum of the commodity, which is over and above the 10 per cent increment level compared to the previous years' loading during the same period. The discount offered on incremental loading will encourage users to load more on Indian Railways.

Mr Prasad made these announcements while inaugurating a seminar on `Dedicated Railway Freight Corridor' organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry here. Another facility announced on Thursday allows users to load/unload on two points if they are not in a position to load/unload the entire rake.

The Minister also announced an increase in free time allotted for the loading and unloading of jumbo rakes from eight hours to nine hours. The free time allotted to users for unloading tank wagons has been increased from five hours to seven hours.

The free time has also been increased for mechanised unloading in open wagons from five hours to six hours. Two extra hours have been extended for additional shunting for moving and removing rakes on sidings, he added.

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