SER eases procurement norms to promote ‘Make in India’

South Eastern Railway (SER) has taken important initiatives to ease procurement norms by adopting directives issued by the Ministry of Railways. The policy of the Government of India has encouraged ‘Make in India’ with a view to promote manufacturing and production goods and services to ensure more income and employment.

  • As per direction of the Stores Directorate of Railway Board, South Eastern Railway is actively encouraging and propagating the favourable policies amongst vendors of Indian Railways.
  • Due to active steps taken by the Material Management Department of SER the MSE purchase by SER has increased to 32.75% for the current financial year (20-21) from 16% (in the year 19-20).
  • In a tender if the foreign based item or the firm having local content less than 50% becomes L1, 50% of the order is placed o­n the local supplier as per the terms and conditions of tender.
  • The indigenous sources within the margin of purchase preference are given opportunity to match the rate of L1/imported items.
  • These steps are expected to generate employment and boost economy during the COVID 2019 pandemic.
  • This has been enforced strictly in SER so as to make procurement through indigenous suppliers.

Freight performance:

South Eastern Railway (SER), in the month of October, 2020 has loaded 16.48 million tonnes of freight as against 14.00 million tonnes loaded in October, 2019 registering a growth of 17.71%. With this loading performance, SER has also surpassed the target of 14.65 million tonnes of freight loading fixed for the month of October 2020 by loading 1.83 million tonnes more than the target.

  • The Covid-19 pandemic affected the freight loading performance of South Eastern Railway during the first quarter of the current financial year. 
  • In spite of nationwide lockdown, SER has continued with the freight transportation to keep the supply chain steady. With gradual improvement in overall situation, freight service of SER has bounced back, crossing the loading target fixed by Railway Board.
  • The main commodities of freight loading of SER were Iron Ore, Coal, Pig Iron & Finished Steel, Cement, Food Grains, Fertiliser etc.
  • Revenue generation from freight loading in October of current financial year (2020-21) has been Rs 1404.24 crores as against Rs 1190.65 crores in October of last fiscal registering a growth of 17.94%.
  • A number of concession/discount is being given by SER to make freight movement attractive through railways. 
  • With a view to attract new business, senior officers of SER have been regularly holding meeting with representative of different industries and freight customers. 
  • The formation of Business Development Units at Zonal and Divisional levels and increase in speed of freight trains have also contributed to the growth of freight loading.

Source: SER-Press Release | Image credit: SER