Lok Sabha Question No. 1792 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Business in Bulk Commodities
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, Shrirang Appa Barne, ANANDRAO  ADSUL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1792 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017

## BUSINESS IN BULK COMMODITIES

1792.     SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  traditionally  have  been  doing  business  in  bulk commodities,  that  too  in  ten  major  commodities  including  ore  and cement among others and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether Public Private Partnership(PPP) is the best mode to accommodate smaller quantities of cargo and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Railways  is  working  on  a  structured  plan  which  will encourage multi-modal transportation and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Railways  have  prepared  the  vision  document  to  make Indian Railways the best in the world by 2030; and
- (e) if so, the steps taken by the Railways in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1792 BY SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO, DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE  AND  SHRI  ANANDRAO  ADSUL  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK SABHA ON 26.07.2017 REGARDING BUSINESS IN BULK COMMODITIES

(a) Yes,  Madam.  The  data  as  maintained  by  Indian  Railways  is  as under:

| Commodity wise loading for 2016-17 over Indian Railways (in Million Tonnes)   | Commodity wise loading for 2016-17 over Indian Railways (in Million Tonnes)   | Commodity wise loading for 2016-17 over Indian Railways (in Million Tonnes)   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Commodity                                                                     | Loading                                                                       | % of Total Loading                                                            |
| Coal                                                                          | 533.35                                                                        | 48.10                                                                         |
| Iron Ore                                                                      | 137.61                                                                        | 12.41                                                                         |
| Cement                                                                        | 104.15                                                                        | 9.39                                                                          |
| Other Goods                                                                   | 80.04                                                                         | 7.22                                                                          |
| Fertilizers                                                                   | 48.92                                                                         | 4.41                                                                          |
| Pig Iron & Steel                                                              | 48.41                                                                         | 4.37                                                                          |
| Container                                                                     | 47.49                                                                         | 4.28                                                                          |
| Foodgrains                                                                    | 44.93                                                                         | 4.05                                                                          |
| POL                                                                           | 42.93                                                                         | 3.87                                                                          |
| Raw Material for Steel Plant                                                  | 20.96                                                                         | 1.89                                                                          |
| Total                                                                         | 1108.79                                                                       |                                                                               |

- (b) Yes, Madam. Container traffic is already in existence to accommodate smaller quantities  of  cargo.  In  addition,  initiative to run double stack dwarf container trains on PAN India basis has also  been  taken  by  Indian  Railways.  With  a  view  to  capturing small  parcel  traffic,  a  scheme  for  leasing  of  parcel  space  of

Brake-vans / Parcel-vans of passengers carrying trains and Parcel Cargo  express  train  is  already  in  existence.  Under  the  scheme, entire  parcel  capacity  of  unit  (i.e.  Brake-van  or  Parcel-van  or entire  Parcel Cargo train) is leased out to the private parties in inviting  bids  through  open  tenders.  The  leaseholder  aggregates the  small  cargo  from  various  customers  and  offers  the  same  in the leased parcel capacity for transportation by the Railway.

- (c) Yes, Madam. With a view to encouraging multi-modal transportation,  82  terminals  are  operated  by  Container  train operators.  CONCOR,  a  PSU  of  Ministry  of  Railways,  has  68 terminals spread over the country. Five logistics parks have been developed in 2016-17.
- (d) & (e) Yes, Madam. A draft document has been sent to Niti Aayog which has been mandated to prepare a vision document for 2030 for several ministries including Railways.

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