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The Integrated Mines and Minerals Management System (i3MS), the online data verification and permit generation software for mineral transport, is expected to be fully integrated with the Freight Operations Information System (FOIS) by the end of May.
"Pilot testing of the integration of i3MS and FOIS has been done in the Joda circle. The integration will rule out any discrepancy in ore loading and despatch data. By the end of May, we hope that the system will be rolled out at all railway sidings in the state", said director (mines), Deepak Mohanty.
The integration of i3MS with FOIS of Railways is the first of its kind in the country. The Railway Board has advised other states to go for the system upon successful pilot testing of integration, said Mohanty.
As suggested by the Railway authorities, digital signature of all the concerned mining officers will be introduced so as to ensure transparency and accountability.
Since data and procedures pertaining to iron ore mining has been fully computerized in the state, the steel & mines department was keen on sharing all relevant information with the Railways through the electronic mode.
The onus will be on the department to issue rake-wise transit permits to the Railways. The department will also offer information like unique identity number for the rake transit permit, name of the party despatching iron ore from the railway siding, name of the party receiving the iron ore, validity period of the rake transit permit, amount of iron ore permitted for transportation in terms of rakes and type of iron ore.
This information will be automatically transferred periodically from the server of the department of respective state governments to Railway's server at Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) in a secure mode through a firewall. The information received from the state government will be stored in the Railway server at CRIS.
Railways would periodically transmit rake wise details of the iron ore transported, including names of consignee and consignor, unique identity number of transit permit, originating station, destination station, date of loading and quantity moved through a secure mode to the state government.
The i3MS has already been integrated with the online system of commercial tax and port authorities, RTO (regional transport office) database and the online system of treasury.
