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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 994
TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2015
REVENUE FROM FREIGHT CARRIER
994. SHRI K.R.P. PRABAKARAN:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Railways have taken any action to generate more
revenue from freight carrier;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken by the Railways thereon for this purpose and the
funds allocated in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) and (b) Yes, Madam. Indian Railways have introduced following
freight marketing schemes for procurement of wagons/ rakes by
inviting private investment to enhance existing fleet of wagons
(freight carrier) with a view to generate more revenue. These are –
(i) Special Freight Train Operator (SFTO) Scheme – For high capacity
and special purpose wagons for transportation of selected
commodity.
Proposals have been received from two parties for procurement of
three rakes by each party.
(ii) Automobile Freight Train Operator (AFTO) Scheme – For
transportation of automobiles traffic with suitable design and higher
throughput.
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Proposals have been received for procurement of 12 rakes from two
parties. Out of which, 6 rakes have been inducted and running on
Indian Railway’s system.
(iii) Railways have introduced an Automatic Freight Rebate Scheme for
traffic loaded in traditional empty flow directions w.e.f. 25.06.2014
wherein all rakes loaded in notified empty flow directions are
charged at Class LR1 for trainload traffic and at Class 100 for
wagonload traffic subject to certain terms and conditions.
In addition, an incentive scheme for Freight Forwarders is already in
place since 2006, which facilitates cargo aggregation.
(iv) Container Train Operators Policy - This was opened in 2006, where
Private Container Train Operators were allowed to operate
container trains for movement of both domestic containers as well
as EXIM (Export-Import) containers. While these rakes are owned
by Container Train Operators (CTOs), Indian Railways hauls their
rakes and realizes haulage charges. At present, there are 387
container rakes owned by Container Corporation of India Limited
(CONCOR) and 16 other Container Train Operators (CTOs) who have
obtained licenses to operate. During last financial year, container
traffic loading on Indian Railways was 48.83 million tonnes
registering a growth of 12% over 2013-2014.
(c) Under these schemes, rakes are procured by the private parties, as
such, the question of allocation of fund in this regard does not arise.
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