HOLE ALUR

Railways to offer reliable, fast, affordable and easy to handle parcel services for logistics / courier agencies

Joint working group to be formed consisting of Railway officials and representatives of the industry to work out best norms of engagement

Win win solutions to be worked out

Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry held a meeting with top courier service agencies to facilitate robust partnership with Railways Freight and Parcel service. During the meeting it was informed that Railways was set to offer reliable, fast, affordable and easy to handle parcel services for logistics / courier agencies.

The meeting was called to discuss and explore the possibilities of expanding the business of private parcel services through Indian Railways. In order to quickly work out the best guidelines and ease of doing business, Joint working group is going to be formed consisting of Railway officials and representatives of logistics / courier providers.

Speaking o­n the occasion the Minister said that win win solutions needed to be there to ensure a sustainable business development for all. It may also be noted that total 5,292 Parcel trains run by Indian Railways from 22.03.2020 till 02.09.2020 out of which 5,139 have been time-tabled trains. Total 3,18,453 tonnes of consignments have been loaded in these trains and the earnings have been Rs. 116.19 crores.

It is worth mentioning that Indian Railways Freight loading for the month of August 2020 with total 94.33 million tonnes of freight loading surpasses last years loading for the same month. Total 1,41,049 rakes with 451.38 million tonnes of freight loaded by Indian Railways from 25.03.2020 till 01.09.2020. A number of concessions/ discounts are also being given in Indian Railways to make Railways Freight movement very attractive. Improvements in freight movements will be institutionalized and incorporated in the upcoming zero based time table.

Courtesy: PIB

DRM ASANSOL HOLD VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE TO DISSEMINATE DEVELOPMENTS OF ASANSOL DIVISION

Kolkata, August 28, 2020:

Shri Sumit Sarkar, Divisional Railway Manager, Eastern Railway, Asansol hold virtual press conference at DRM Building, Asansol today (28.8.2020). Speaking o­n the occasion, Shri Sarkar, highlighted different concessions & discounts given to freight traffic. He mentioned about concession in busy season surcharge, long lead concession of 15% - 20% granted to coal, iron ore and finished steel, short lead concession of 10% - 50% granted to all traffic except coal & iron ore, terminal access charge concession (50%) granted to Group-III terminal, exemption of payment of stabling charges for container and automobile traffic till 31st October, 2020, 5% & 25% discount o­n haulage charges to loaded and empty container respectively. He also pointed out about the concession to bulk/loose fly ash and industrial salt.

Shri Sarkar spoke of the steps to decrease congestion at terminals. He said that there will be no restriction o­n booking of freight to any of the goods sheds or terminals. Alternate goods shed policy launched to de-congest busy goods sheds have been introduced. He also said about the liberalisation of private freight terminal and private siding policies. Shri Sarkar said that free time relaxation granted to covered wagons, distance permission for mini rake increased from 400 km to 1500 km and 5% surcharge waived off. Lower limit relaxed to 10 wagons to target piecemeal traffic in traditional empty flow direction. Weighment from road way bridges accepted for granite traffic and export traffic to Bangladesh permitted in parcel and container. Two point unloading permitted to automobile traffic.

Shri Sakar spoke of the steps to attract smaller and train load traffic, creation of business development units for o­ne stop solution for their transportation needs.

He highlighted about various good works done by Asansol Division including hands free paddle operated water tap and soap dispensers, in house conversion of general second class coaches in isolation coaches, in-house manufacture of hospital bed & stretcher, in-house manufacture of oxygen trolleys, in-house preparation of sanitising chamber and o­n-board pneumatic sanitisation system, distribution of food & food item to needy people, creation of isolation/quarantine room, ASAN AROGYA APP as a means of hospital management information system etc.

Shri Sarkar spoke of automatic mask & sanitisation vending machine commissioned at Asansol station, mechanized laundry in Asansol, ultraviolet sanitisation chamber in Asansol, luggage sanitised dispensing machine developed by Andal Diesel Shed, remote operated trolley (COVID Express) for carrying around food, water, medicines and other items to patients housed in COVID isolation, renovated Vivekananda Park and renovated Nilkantha Park etc. Shri Sarkar informed of the solar power generation system in new building of MEMU Car Shed in electric TRS shed, Asansol and spoke of different engineering activities aiming at seamless train services.