Lean season rail freight policy soon

By the end of this month, the Railways will offer a separate freight pricing policy for concessional tariffs during the lean season and for routes from where wagons return empty.

Addressing a meeting of general managers of various zones, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said marketing needed to be in order to capture additional traffic.

"We have set the internal loading target for the year as 700 million tonnes, which can only be achieved through effective marketing," Prasad added. He also said all earning contracts would be finalised during next two months.

Briefing the press on the decisions taken during the meeting, Prasad said a target of increasing other coaching and sundry income by 50 per cent had been set.

The Railways will raise the licence-fee for permanent catering units by 5-6 times in the next two months. "These units have been operating by paying a meager license-fee for a long time. Now the licence fee will be commensurate with actual sales figures," he said.

Prasad added that the licence fee for operating parking stands, PCOs and advertisements would also be revised within two months.

Prasad said for better accountability in case of rail accidents, senior officials like the general managers and divisonal railway managers would be held responsible.

Shortage of drivers and locomotives also affected the loading capacity as trains had to wait for hours for engines and drivers, he said. He said there was a shortage of about 700-800 drivers that would be filled up soon.

The minister also said the Railways had performed well during the first two months of the current year with its income increasing by 18 per cent. He, however, added that continuous efforts had to be made in order to achieve 85 per cent operating ratio by the end of the year.