The Hindu Business Line : Loading of iron ore at non-congested points picking up

The Railways’ bid to broadbase the loading of iron ore in mineral-rich areas in Orissa through better utilisation of non-congested loading points is believed to be yielding results, though slowly.

The Railways, in a policy announcement made in October last year, made it clear to the Priority C customers of iron ore, mostly, sponge iron and pig iron units, that they would be allowed to load additional rakes provided they made more use of non-congested goods sheds and non-congested private sidings in Dongaposi and Barsua clusters. Initially, there was some resistance to it, which is slowly going away.

According to indications available, the loading at non-congested stations in Dongaposi area jumped by more than 80 per cent during the period from November last year to March this year.

During the same period, the loading in non-congested stations in Barsua cluster too increased substantially. The loading at Gua too, it is learnt, has been impressive.

It is interesting to note that almost every consumer of iron ore would like to load at four stations, namely, Barjamda, Jaruli, Banspani and Barbil and two private sidings (Essel and BIL) under Dongaposi cluster and some at the Barsua station.

As result, these stations are heavily congested. There are several other stations which are non-congested in the same clusters because few would go there due to bad infrastructure. Some of these non-congested stations do not have even proper road connections, it is learnt.

The congested stations and the private sidings, understandably, suffer from capacity limitations. For example, only about 400 rakes can be loaded for sponge iron and pig iron customers at these stations every month against the monthly allotment of 600 rakes per month.

wagon investment scheme

Also, the WIS (wagon investment scheme) customers, mostly iron ore exporters, virtually have monopoly over these five stations and two private sidings. As it is, the WIS customers get preference because of the contractual agreement but more important is that unless the loading of export rakes is expedited, there will be shortage of rakes at the port end for backloading (i.e. loading of imported materials).