The Hindu Business Line : Rlys firming up policy for use of its sheds

New Delhi May 11 Even as Indian Railways finalises its policy to lease railway land to container operators to build inland container depots, it is working on another policy to let the box operators use the Railways' existing good-sheds to load/unload containers with the payment of certain level of fee.

While the exact policy terms are being worked out, broadly this is how it would work: Container operators would identify specific good-sheds /platforms and approach the zonal railways concerned to let them use the shed for certain number of hours.

"Operators could use the space to load boxes using chassis," said a Ministry official.

Depending on the availability of space on platforms or in good sheds, they would be permitted to use the area for handling containers. This is likely to be a common facility and various operators can book the space to use it.

However, such usage is likely to constitute a small volume of overall operations for any box operator.

At present, Indian Railways charges Container Corporation of India about Rs 250 per twenty ft equivalent unit container handled on the Railway land.

The Railways is yet to firm up its land lease policy, which would allow the new container operators who entered the sector after it was opened up last year to put up inland container depots (ICD).

Box operators' demand

Container operators have been demanding that the Railways should lease land on the same terms and conditions that the Railways had extended to Concor to set up ICDs.

Several operators have moved applications seeking permission to use specific land have been moved to the Railways during the last one-year period at various points of time.

The Railways has stated several times that it would give preferential treatment to container operators while allotting land, the operators association has sought a clear, land lease policy from the Railways as soon as possible.

14 players

Fourteen players, including the incumbent (Concor), Adani Logistics, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), Gateway Distriparks, Hind Terminals (MSC Group), Reliance, SICAL Logistics, J.M. Baxi Group, Delhi Assam Roadways and Pipavav Rail Corporation Ltd have received approvals from the Railways to offer containerised services in early 2006.

In 2007, only one firm Kribhco applied for the container operations licence.

More Stories on : Railways | Supply Chain Management

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
`Pawan Hans plans to increase fleet, launch sea planes'

Indian plans self check-in kiosk at Kolkata airport

Rlys firming up policy for use of its sheds

East Coast Railway clears many projects in AP, Orissa