Lok Sabha Question No. 1164 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Increase in Freight
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1164 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## INCREASE IN FREIGHT

1164.  SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  two  third  of  the  Railways  earnings  come  from  freight and the revenue from coal is just half of the total freight earnings and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Railways  is seeking  to boost non-coal sector participation in transportation and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Railways have asked all its zonal offices to approach customers for freight booking; and
- (d) if so, the outcome of the new initiative taken by the Railways as far as increase in freight is concerned?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1164 BY SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  23.11.2016  REGARDING INCREASE IN FREIGHT

(a):  Yes,  Madam.  The  percentage  revenue  from  Coal  on  Indian Railways  during  the  year  2015-16  (provisional)  was  46.20%.  As per available record,  earnings from  Coal and  total Freight earnings during 2015-16 were ` 49377.56 crore and ` 106940.55 crore respectively.

(b):  Yes, Madam. Two Schemes viz, (1) Special Freight Operator (SFTO) and (2) Automobile Freight Train Operator Scheme (AFTO) have  been  launched  to  improve  Railways  share  in  the  market. The details are as under:-

(1)Special Freight Operator Scheme (SFTO)- SFTO provides investments  for procurement  of  High  Capacity  and  Special Purpose wagons for specific commodities like molasses, fly ash, edible  oil,  caustic  soda,  chemical,  petrochemicals,  alumina  & bulk cement.

(2)Automobile Freight Train Operator Scheme (AFTO)- AFTO provides procurement and operation of special purpose wagons for  transportation  of  automobile  i.e.  two  /three  -wheelers,  cars and tractors etc.

(c):  Yes, Madam. With a view to interacting with the customers for freight booking, 'Key Customer Managers' have been nominated  for  each  commodity  and  to  establish  liaison  with major customers/stakeholders and Zonal Railways.

(d): Outcome of new initiatives by Railways are as under:-

1. Under SFTO, 3  rakes have been procured and also running on Railways Network since November-2015.
2. Under  AFTO,  9  rakes  of  BCACBM  wagons    have  been procured and are running on Indian Railways.
3. Increasing the axle load for carrying additional traffic per wagon. Length of freight trains has also been increased to carry more traffic per train.
4. Use of extensive computerization in freight operations to   improve monitoring and to improve utilization of assets.
5. Deployment of higher capacity locomotives and higher capacity wagons.
6. Improvement in maintenance practices of wagons and locomotives resulting in increased availability of stock for traffic use.

rolling

7. Improvement in track and signaling to carry the high volume of traffic.
8. Freight rates for Coal traffic have been rationalised.
9. Rationalisation of Merry-Go-Round (MGR) system w.e.f. 01.04.2016.
10. Withdrawal of Port Congestion Charge from 13.04.2016.
11. Extension of Automatic Freight Rebate scheme for traffic loaded in traditional empty flow direction w.e.f. 13.04.2016.

- 12.Withdrawal of Busy Season Charge for traffic loaded in   BCN group and BCNHL wagons w.e.f. 01.05.2016 till 30.06.2016.
- 13.Withdrawal of dual freight policy for iron ore w.e.f.   10.05.2016.
- 14.Re-introduction of short lead concession and reduction of minimum  distance  for  charge  from  125  km  to  100  km  w.e.f. 15.07.2016.
- 15.BCN group permitted for two point booking and mini rake w.e.f. 15.03.2016.

16.Distance for mini rake increased from 400 km to 600 km  w.e.f.

15.03.2016.

- 17.A liberalised policy with delegation of power to Zonal Railways introduced for two point booking of covered wagons in which any two stations within a distance of 200km in busy season and 400km in lean season have been permitted for two point booking w.e.f. 22.07.2016.
- 18.Proliferation of Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) service on Indian  Railways.
19. Permission to notify Group I and Group II station/ goods  sheds as CRTs for lift on-lift off operations w.e.f. 12.07.2016.
20. Charging of commodities for transportation by containers has been liberalised. 43 additional commodities de-notified for charging at FAK rates.

21. Guidelines for Station to Station Rate policy issued. *****