Northern Railway implements new simplified freight policy for Ro-Ro traffic

Jammu, Aug 5: Northern Railway has implemented a new freight rate structure for Roll-on and Roll-off (Ro-Ro) traffic with the objective of making freight movement more affordable, transparent and competitive. It has asserted that the restructured service will be especially beneficial for Jammu and Kashmir which recurrently faces traffic disruptions on the National Highway, particularly during the rainy season. In simple terms, Ro-Ro is a transport service in which trucks or commercial vehicles loaded with goods are directly driven onto specially designed open flat railway wagons on their wheels and are directly driven off at the destination. According to Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Jammu Railway Division Uchit Singhal, the revised Ro-Ro policy will prove to be a game changer for Jammu Railway Division. “With the removal of Busy Season Surcharge (BSS) and Demurrage and Development Charges (DCs), abolition of penalty and committed traffic conditions and permission for one-way operations, rail freight has now become much more competitive than road. Considering the hilly terrain and highway jam problems during monsoon, this service will bring great relief to industries in J&K. Our effort is to connect transporters from Bari Brahmana and other industrial areas with this facility and give new momentum to regional trade,” Singhal said. He asserted the Railways believed that this rationalised freight system would promote Ro-Ro traffic and play an important role in developing a sustainable and efficient logistics network in the country and J&K would be among the major beneficiaries. Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector, Jammu Railway Division informed that any trader, farmer or road transport organisation in Jammu and Kashmir, wishing to avail the facility under the new policy should contact the office of the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Jammu Railway Division. With regard to the new policy, he informed that the charge would be Rs 1.45 per tonne-km for distances up to 750 km, a linear rate reduced from Rs 1.45 to Rs 1.30 per tonne-km for 750 to 2000 km and Rs 1.30 per tonne-km for distances over 2000 km. According to Singh, the minimum chargeable weight has been fixed at 45 tonnes or the actual gross vehicle weight, whichever is higher, and the minimum distance at 50 km. Terminal charges, GST and other applicable charges will be payable as per existing rules. “Several old restrictions have also been removed in this revised policy for the convenience of customers. Busy Season Surcharge (BSS) and Development Charges (DC) have now been completely abolished, which will give customers an additional benefit of about 20 percent,” he said. Earlier it was mandatory for transporters to commit traffic and book for a round trip, along with a 5 percent penalty on shortfall. All these conditions have been abolished in the new policy. One-way Ro-Ro operations will now also be permitted. Customers will get direct and substantial savings from this revised policy. For example, on the 241 km Bari Brahmana–Bijbehara route, the freight has reduced from Rs 20,969.34 to Rs 14,222.25, resulting in a saving of Rs 6,747.09 i.e. 47 percent per truck. According to railway officials, the new rate structure will provide several direct benefits to industries and transporters. The biggest benefit is the reduction in transportation cost, which will make sending goods by rail more economical compared to road. This will reduce the pressure of heavy vehicles on national highways, reduce road accidents and traffic jams, and help the environment by reducing carbon emissions. “This is especially useful because Jammu and Kashmir is a hilly region and traffic jams occur on the national highway during the rainy season. With Ro-Ro service, loading and unloading time for goods will be reduced, turnaround will be faster and timely delivery to industries will be ensured,” they stated. They pointed out that earlier, Railways used to provide 3 hours of free time for loading, which was increased to 6 hours and 3 hours of free time will also be given for wharf clearance. “This new policy will not only give existing industries better access to national and international markets, but will also develop new freight loading sources, thereby accelerating regional industrial growth,” the officials asserted. The special haulage rate on the New Rewari–New Palanpur section of DFCCIL (Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited) will, however, remain unchanged, it has been specified.