Lok Sabha Question No. 1753 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-27
Subject: Anomaly Due to Freight Lost
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BHOLA SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1753 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2016

## ANOMALY DUE TO FREIGHT LOST

1753.   SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  RAILWAYS  be  pleased  to  state  the  details  of policy changes proposed to be made by the Railways to address the anomaly caused due to railway freight lost on the highways which has an adverse impact on the economy and sustainable environment?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1753 BY SHRI BHOLA SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.07.2016 REGARDING ANOMALY DUE TO FREIGHT LOST.

Indian Railways is the most environmental friendly in transportation sector. It is a major player in transport market. The Government is committed to improve the share of Indian Railways in the freight market and this is reflected in the Budget announcement made during the current year. In Budget it has been announced  that  a  review  of  tariff  policy  will  be  undertaken  to evolve  a  competitive  rate  structure  vis-a-vis  other  modes,  permit multi-point  loading/unloading  and  apply  differentiated  tariffs  to increase utilization of alternate routes.

The  Government  has  initiated  various  steps  so  as  to  increase the share of Rail in transportation market. Some of these steps are as under:

- i) Distance for Mini Rakes increased from 400kms to 600kms.
2. ii) All covered wagons have been permitted for booking of traffic to two-point/multi-point combinations and mini rake.
3. iii) Two point combination for covered stock Liberalised. Now any two  stations  within  200  kms  in  Busy  season  and  within  400 kms in lean season can be booked for two point.
4. iv) Automatic  Freight  Rebate  Scheme  in  Traditional  Empty  Flow Direction has been extended till 30.09.2016.
- v) Port  Congestion  Charge  (10%  of  Base  Freight)  has  been withdrawn from 13.04.2016.
6. vi)
7. Merry-go-Round System has been further Rationalised.
8. vii) Dual  Freight  Policy  for  Iron  Ore  has  been  withdrawn  from 10.05.2016.

- viii) Transportation of Iron Ore through Rail-cum costal shipping for domestic consumption permitted w.e.f. 23.03.2016.
- ix) Withdrawal  of  Busy  Season  Charge  on  covered  stock  (15%  of Base freight) from 01.05.2016
- x) Minimum distance for charge is reduced from 125 kms to 100 kms (from 15.07.2016 to 15.09.2016) for all  commodities  and graded    concession    for  short  lead  traffic  introduced  under which  Short  Lead  concession  for  charging  of  freight  for  all traffic booked up to 100 kms will be as under:-
- xi) Stations and Goods sheds notified in Group I & II are opened for Container operations including Lift On-Lift Off and/or Chassis Stuffing/De-stuffing and will be considered as Container Rail Terminals (CRT).
- xii) Proliferation of Roll-on Roll-off scheme over Indian Railways.
- xiii) The  following  changes  have  been  made  in  Classification  of Commodities -
- (a) Classification of Red Mud reduced from Class-150 to 120;
- (b) Groundnut Seeds added under Oil cakes and Seeds at Class-120;
- (c) Oliflux added under Minerals and ores at Class-160;
- (d) Kota Stone has been de-notified.

| Distance Slab   | Freight Concession   |
|-----------------|----------------------|
| 0 - 50 km       | 30% (thirty percent) |
| 51 - 75 km      | 10% (ten percent)    |
| 76 - 90 km      | 5% (five percent)    |
| 91 - 100 km     | Nil                  |

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