With gradual opening of the economy, freight loading performance of North Central Railway is improving steadily and it has registered positive loading for last 04 months consecutively i.e. June to September as compared to the same months of last financial year.
- Besides improvement over last year loading performance; in Sept, 2020 freight loading of 1.32 million tonnes was also on plus side to the proportionate target for Sept, 2020 to achieve total loading of 16.94 million tonnes in 2020-21.
- So far NCR has loaded 7.20 million tonnes freight in FY 2020-21 and needs to load additional 9.74 million tonnes in the balance 06 months from October to March to achieve a 16.94 Million tonnes mark.
- To achieve this ambitious freight loading volume in the remaining part of the current financial year, North Central Railway is focusing on increasing loading of bulk commodities and capturing new non bulk freight streams.
- Increase in volume of bulk commodities like POL (Petroleum , oil and Lubricant), Cement, ballast etc. will play very crucial role in this as cement and petroleum products combined together account for more than 50% total freight loading of North Central Railway.
- In a bid to increase freight loading volume, a meeting with major freight loaders of POL (Petroleum, oil and Lubricant), cement and ballast was organized in the HQ office of North Central Railway.
- In this virtual meeting convened by PCOM NCR Shri Ravi Valluri and PCCM Shri M N Ohha; representatives of IOCL Baad Mathura, HPCL Rasulpur Gogamau, Diamond Cement Parichha, L&T Cement Chunar, leading ballast loaders etc. participated through video conferencing, besides CFTM NCR, CCM/FM/NCR, Dy CCM FM NCR from NCR HQ office and Sr DOMs and Sr DCMs from the three divisions.
- In the meeting strategy for increasing loading of these commodities in balance 06 months of 2020-21 was discussed and freight customers were assured that all possible help from Railway side shall be rendered.
- It was further apprised that BDUs at divisional and HQ level can be approached as a single window facilitation on all freight related matters and contact details of BDUs on HQ and divisions were shared with all the customers present in the meeting.
Initiatives to boost Freight Operations:
Indian Railways has taken a number of initiatives to boost Freight Operations inspite of Covid-19 related challenges.
Indian Railways has taken a series of initiatives in Tariff and Non-Tariff field. Utilizing Covid period as an opportunity Indian Railways substantially increased the speed of Freight Trains. 72% increase in average speed of Freight Trains in the year 2020-21 as compared to last year. 94% increase took place in speed of Freight Trains in August 2020 compared to August 2019.
Following are the latest Tariff Rationalisation initiatives (measures) taken by Indian Railways to boost Freight Operations:
- 5% discount on loaded containers (addition to 25% on empty) for Containers from 03.08.2020.
- Discount for Pond ash/ Moisturised ash – Open wagon – 40% for Power plants, Cement from 03.08.2020.
- Revision in classification of Industrial salt from 120 to 100 A for Chemical Industry from 03.08.2020.
- Stabling charges for private Container and Automobile trains waived off till 31st October 2020 for Containers and Automobile from 03.08.2020.
Following are some other Tariff Rationalisation initiatives (measures) taken by Indian Railways to boost Freight Operations:
- Withdrawal of Busy Season charge-15% for All sectors Except Coal, Iron ore and containers from 1.10.2019.
- Withdrawal of 5% surcharge of two point/mini rakes for Cement, Iron and steel, Food grains, Fertilizers, Bulk BOG from 1.10.2019.
- Discount for Fly ash-Bagged in open wagon-40% for Power plants, Cement from 10.05.2020.
- Alternate terminal scheme-Rs 56,000 to Rs 80,000 per rake for All sector from 27.06.2020.
- Round trip Traffic (RTT) policy-charging of lower class for All sectors from 01.07.2020.
- Long lead concession-15 to 20% for Coal, Iron ore and Iron and steel from 01.07.2020.
- Short lead concession-10 to 50% for All sector (except coal and iron ore ) from 01.07.2020.
Following are latest Non-Tariff initiatives (measures) taken by Indian Railways to boost Freight Operations:
- Two point unloading permitted for Automobile traffic for Automobiles sector from 05.08.2020.
- Limit on number of Co-users in Private siding removed for All sectors from 18.08.2020.
- All private sidings/Good sheds/Private freight terminals opened up for Parcel traffic for Parcels from 18.08.2020.
- Reduced composition for Indented parcels extended till 31.03.202 for Parcels from 18.08.2020.
- Extension of time tabled parcel express till 31.12.2020 for Parcels from 19.06.2020.
- Application fee for Greenfield PFT reduced from Rs 10 Lakh to Rs 20,000 and completely waived off for conversion of siding to Brownfield PFT for All Sectors from 24.08.2020.
- 23 more two point combinations opened for steel traffic for Steel sector from 25.08.2020.
- Freight and parcel helpline through 13 for All sectors from 26.08.2020.
- Distance restriction on Mini rakes of 1500 km removed with a small surcharge for Cement, Iron and steel, Food grains, Fertilizers, Bulk BOG from 27.08.2020.
Other Measures taken by Indian Railways to boost Freight Operations are as follows:
- Business Development Units (BDUs) set up – Divisions, Zones and Board level.
- Restrictions on co-use of private sidings removed – 1,079 private sidings allowed to become private freight terminals effectively.
- 405 Major Good sheds being improved-Concrete surface, bright LED lighting, better roads & labour facilities – To enable 3 shift operations.
- Time tabled parcel trains.
- Opening up of export traffic to Bangladesh for Parcels, Containers & Automobile.
- Kisan rail introduced from Devlali (Nashik) to Danapur (Patna) on 07.08.2020 Multiple stoppages, Multiple commodities, Multiple parties – Now extended to Muzaffarpur. Link train from Kolhapur to Manmad also added. Now Bi-weekly from 24.08.2020. Total 04 trips have been completed till Now.
Source: North Central Railway-Press Release
