Lok Sabha Question No. 2836 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Freight Traffic
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2836 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.07.2019

## FREIGHT TRAFFIC

- † 2836. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the freight traffic in Railways is decreasing every year resulting in revenue loss;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether one of the major reasons attributed is cargo theft and lack of proper maintenance;
- (d) if so, the facts thereof; and
- (e) whether any effective measures are  being taken by the Government to promote  Railway  Freight  traffic  and  plug  the  loopholes  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

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STATEMENT REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2836 BY SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.07.2019 REGARDING FREIGHT TRAFFIC

(a) and (b): No, Sir. Freight traffic and earnings of Indian Railways have shown an upward trend during the last 3 years. Details are as under:

| Year    |   Freight loading (in Million Tonnes) | Freight Earnings (in ₹ Crore)   |
|---------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2016-17 |                               1106.15 | 1,04,338.54                     |
| 2017-18 |                               1159.55 | 1,17,055.40                     |
| 2018-19 |                               1221.39 | 1,27,432.72                     |

- (c): No, Sir.
- (d):    Does not arise.
- (e):   A large number of measures have been taken to promote railway freight traffic. Some of the important measures are:
1. Focused investments for augmenting transportation capacities of Indian Railways  on  major  freight  routes  are  being  undertaken  to facilitate higher freight volumes.
2. Freight incentive schemes such as Traditional Empty Flow Direction  (TEFD)  and  Long  Term  Tariff  Contract  (LTTC)  have  been formulated.
3. Private  wagon  investment  schemes  such  as  General  Purpose Wagon  Investment  Scheme  (GPWIS),  Liberalised  Wagon  Investment Scheme (LWIS), Special Freight Train Operator (SFTO), and Automobiles

Freight  Train  Operator  (AFTO)  have  been  formulated  for  facilitating  a long term synergy between IR and the freight customers.

In  order to prevent theft of Railway property/goods transported through Railways, following steps are being taken:

1. Railway yards are provided with Tower lights, tracks for patrolling etc.
2. Frequent  drives  are  conducted  against  undesirable  elements  in trains and railway premises to prevent such thefts.
3. Surveillance is being kept through Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, provided at about 453 stations over Indian Railways.
4. All  cases  of  theft  of  Railway  property/booked  consignment  are promptly  registered,  investigated  and  arrested  and  the  criminals  are prosecuted as per law.
5. Crime Intelligence Branch (CIB) of Railway Protection Force (RPF) keeps regular watch and collects intelligence from time  to time about criminals indulging in theft of Railway  property/goods transported through Railways.
6. Regular  co-ordination  meetings  are  conducted  with  Government Railway Police (GRP)/Civil Police for collection and sharing of criminal intelligence.

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