Lok Sabha Question No. 2329 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Dwarf Containers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, DHARMENDRA YADAV, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2329

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## DWARF CONTAINERS

## 2329.  DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT :

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  correct  that  the  Railways  has  lost  traffic  to  other modes of transport and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b)  whether the Railways has introduced a commercial service to run double-stack dwarf containers on trains to capture the lost traffic through  new  delivery  model  for  domestic  cargo  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c)   whether  despite  being  smaller  in    size,  the  dwarf  containers  can hold a capacity of 30,500 kgs compared to regular containers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether double-stack movement  of  cargo has increased the Railways revenue;
- (e)   if so, the percentage of revenue increased as a result thereof; and
- (f) the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Railways  to  attract  more  freight traffic?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2329  BY  DR.  SHRIKANT  EKNATH  SHINDE, SHRI  ANANDRAO  ADSUL,  SHRI  ADHALRAO  PATIL  SHIVAJIRAO,  SHRI VINAYAK  BHAURAO  RAUT,  SHRI  DHARMENDRA  YADAV  AND  SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2018 REGARDING DWARF CONTAINERS (a)  Indian  Railways  transport  nearly  one  billion  tonnes  of  goods  every year, which is considerably a huge volume. The freight traffic handled by Indian  Railways  has  increased  more  than  15  fold  from  73.02  million tonnes  in  1950-51  to  1106.15  million  tonnes  in  2016-17.  However, capacity  bottlenecks  have  resulted  in  non-realization  of  the  maximum potential of Railways, as well as deterioration in punctuality and transit times of railway traffic. (b)  Double stack dwarf container (DSDC) has been introduced as a new delivery model to increase loadability and attract new traffic under wire. The  first  double  stack  dwarf  container  was  run  by  a  private  container train operator from Reliance Rail Terminal, Kanalus (PRTK) on 08.07.2018 which reached Kribhco Infrastructure Limited, Pali (KIIP) on 09.07.2018. (c)    Yes,  Madam.  The  Dwarf  container  has  maximum  laden  weight  of 30500 Kg. It is 662 MM short but 162 mm wider than regular containers. (d)  &  (e)  Yes,  Madam.  An  additional  tonnage  of  1300  Metric  Tonne  has been  carried  by  only  one  rake  of  Double  Stack  Dwarf  container  from Reliance Rail Terminal, Kanalus (PRTK) to Kribhco Infrastructure Limited, Pali (KIIP) with 20 to 24% hike in revenue. If regular additional traffic of Dwarf container is received the Railway revenue will surely boost.

- (f) Some of the steps taken by Railways to attract and increase Railway traffic are as follows:
- i. Liberalised  Automatic  Freight  Rebate  scheme  for  traffic  loaded  in empty  flow  direction,  Long  Term  Tariff  Contracts  (LTTC)  with  key freight customers, Station to Station rates (STS), withdrawal of Dual freight policy for Iron Ore, Discount on loading of bagged consignment in open and flat wagons, Rationalisation of Coal Tariff, Rationalisation of Merry-Go-Round (MGR) system, reduction of minimum  distance  for  charge  from  125  km  to  100  km,  Distance increased for mini rake from 400 km to 600 km etc.
- ii. A  number of  measures for  enhancing  ease  of  doing  business  have also  been  taken  such  as  Registration  of  Demand  for  wagons electronically, Electronic Transmission of Railway Receipt (eT-RR), Multiple RRs for single container train, Customer friendly rationalization of weighment policy etc.
- iii. To  increase  rail  traffic,  Indian  Railways  have  introduced  various schemes like Liberalized Wagon Investment Scheme, Special Freight Train Operators Scheme (SFTO), Automobile Freight Train Operator Scheme (AFTO), development of Private Freight Terminals (PFT) and Opening of parcel business in container traffic etc.
- iv. Use  of  extensive  computerization  in  freight  operation  to  improve monitoring  and   to    improve     utilization of assets, Deployment of higher     capacity    locomotives    and    higher    capacity   wagons,

Improvement in maintenance practices of wagons and locomotives resulting in increased availability of rolling stock for traffic, Improvement  in  track  and  signaling  to  carry  the  higher  volume  of traffic, Training staff and officers to adopt the new technology and management practices.

- v. Two  Dedicated  Freight  Corridors  (Western  &  Eastern  Dedicated Freight Corridors) have been taken up to create adequate capacity, which  is  essential  requirement  to  cater  the  traffic  demand  and improve quality of service.

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