In a bid to ease salt supplies from Gujarat to the remaining parts of the country, the salt manufacturers are awaiting a green signal from the ministry of railways for purchase of separate rakes. On the other hand, the government of Gujarat has agreed to provide partial financial assistance for the rakes.
During a meeting with the ISMA leaders, Mamata Banerjee, union minister for railways, had suggested them to procure their own rakes under the ‘own your wagon scheme’ (OYWS) of the ministry of railways, which would enable the industry to avail financial assistance from the state and central governments. "The minister has suggested us to take 50 per cent finance from the state government and the remaining will be provided by the union government under the OYWS," said Bachubhai Ahir, president, ISMA.
Meanwhile, the government of Gujarat is said to have agreed to provide finance for procuring the rakes. "The state government has given an in-principal approval to finance the purchase. And we believe there will be a provision for the same in the upcoming state budget. Now, the matter is pending with the railway ministry," Ahir informed.
The salt industry is facing severe shortage of railway rakes. According to ISMA officials the industry requires around 100 rakes every month for regular salt supplies to the different parts of the country. A rake would be ferried four times in a month, hence there is a need to procure at least 25 rakes, each costing around Rs 1.2 crore. The state government is understood to have agreed to provide finance for ten such rakes. However, official announcement is yet to be made. The railways officials have scheduled a meeting with the ISMA officials next week to take a call under the own your wagon scheme. "A meeting with the senior railways officers next week may fasten the long-pending process of allotment of rakes to the industry," said another official from ISMA.