Railways’ freight tariff declining on non-competitive tariff: survey

In order to attract more freight business, the Railways has taken a number of tariff and non-tariff measures. These include:

• Setting up of Business Development Units to inter alia actively pursue and attract freight business for rail.
• Withdrawal of 15% Busy Season Surcharge on rail freight for all commodities except iron ore and coal.
• Concession on long lead traffic of 15% to 20% on coal, iron ore and iron & steel.
• Concession on short lead traffic of 10% to 50% for commodities (except coal and iron ore).
• 5% discount on loaded containers and 25% on empty containers, and waiver of stabling charges on container rakes during Covid.
• Specific discounts on commodities such as fly ash.
• Rationalisation of classification of industrial salt.
• Making existing schemes like traditional empty flow directions, wagon investment schemes, PFT, Siding Policy simplified and more customer-friendly.
• Debit/Credit scheme for demurrage introduced for sidings.
• Launching of Freight Business Development Portal.

This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Mr Piyush Goyal, in the Lok Sabha this week, said a release.