Rate Instruction No. 61 of 2002

  Government of India
Ministry of Railways
Railway Board

The General Managers (Comml.)

 Sub:-  Freight rebate on Ammonia (Anhydrous Liquefied Gas) and
        Phosphoric Acid moving in privately owned tank wagons.

In continuation with Board’s letter of even number dated 11.4.2002 (Rate Instruction No.23 of 2002) it has been decided to allow a rebate of 5.9% (five decimal nine percent) for movement of Ammonia (Anhydrous Liquefied Gas) and 7.2 % (seven decimal two percent) for movement of Phosphoric Acid in privately owned tank wagons w.e.f. 01.10.2002 to 31.07.2003 on the streams notified from time to time by the Operating Department of the Zonal Railways with the approval of Traffic Transportation Directorate in the Ministry of Railways.
            The rebate in freight charges for current booking for both Ammonia (Anhydrous Liquefied Gas) and Phosphoric Acid in privately owned tank wagons may be allowed at the time of booking in respect of those parties who have paid the maintenance charges in advance at the commencement of the year.  It may also be ensured whether the party had hired the tank wagons from owners of such wagons, the transfer of the tank wagons had the approval of Traffic Transportation Directorate in the Ministry of Railways.
            This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate in the Ministry of Railways.

            Issue necessary instruction to all concerned.

(Shiv Dan Singh)
Director, Traffic Comml. (Rates)
Railway Board.

Rate Instruction No. 62 of 2002

  Government of India
Ministry of Railways
Railway Board

The General  Managers
All Indian Railways
Officers on Special Duty
All Indian Railways

Sub:     Rate reducing powers of General Managers in respect of freight traffic
 – quotation of station to station rates  (STS) – Clarifications.
Ref: Board’s letter No. TCR/1618/2002/7, dated 06.06.2002 (Rate Instruction No. 36 of 2002)

       Board, vide its letter of even number dated 06.06.2002, had issued policy guidelines on the above-mentioned subject.  Consequent upon issue of the guidelines, some of the Zonal Railways have sought certain clarifications and also suggested modifications in respect of certain provisions of the policy guidelines on the quotation of Station-to-Station rates.  The matter has been examined. It has been decided by the Board to clarify/supplement/revise the provisions contained in some of the existing paras of Board’s letter No.TCR/1618/2002/7dated 06.06.2002(Rate Instruction No. 36 of 2002) as under:-

I.          Old pending cases/applications
     Para 1.2 may be supplemented by inserting of a new sub-para 1.2.1 as under:-

1.2.1          Applications received and/or under process prior to notification of the revised STS scheme under Rates Instructions No.36 of 2002 dated 06.06.2002 may be finalised under the earlier scheme issued vide Rate Instruction No.58 of 2001 dated 22.6.2001 as subsequently amended from time to time, provided an option has been given to the rail user to opt for either the earlier STS scheme or the revised STS scheme effective from 06.06.2002 and that the rail user opts for the earlier STS scheme for that particular case.

II.          Cluster of stations

It has been decided to extend the STS Scheme to a cluster of stations.  Para 1.3 may, accordingly, be supplemented by inserting a new sub-para 1.3.1as under:-

1.3.1     The cluster of stations is defined as stations/points within close proximity to each other with the maximum distance between any two stations/points not being more than 100 kms. However, in a particular STS case, the cluster facility will be made applicable either for the purpose of loading or unloading but not for both.  Further, the booking from or to a cluster of stations should not be from or to more than two stations in the cluster.  This implies that for the purpose of booking the block rake from or to a cluster of stations could be either a single point rake or an approved 2-point rake.

III.         Block rake

It has been decided that the STS scheme will continue to be applicable only to block rakes. Para 1.4  may,  however, be  supplemented  by  inserting  a  new sub-para 1.4.1 as under:-

1.4.1          The term “block rake” has been used in a generic sense implying a rake which moves as a train from an originating station(s) to the destination station(s), without any remarshalling of wagons during the journey except for detaching sick wagons. “Block rake” will also include a rake loaded from one originating station/point to approved combination of 2 stations/points and vice-versa, for the purpose of granting STS concession.

IV.        Benchmark for earnings

In para 2.3, the letter “(s)” appearing in the last word year(s) should be deleted. It is clarified that the earnings from a particular stream of traffic by the same rail user should be compared with the earning during the corresponding period of the preceding year.

V.    Fulfilment of commitment over 12 months’ period

(a)   The existing para 5.2 may be deleted.  The existing provisions may be substituted with the revised para 5.2 as under:-

5.2   (Revised) 
However, the rail users who have applied for concession in freight rate under the STS scheme for a period of 12 (twelve) months may have the option to fulfil their commitment on annual basis.  The STS concession in such cases would be granted in the form of refund after the expiry of the 12 months’ period, subject to fulfilment of the commitment.

(b)        Para 7.4 may be supplemented by insertion of a new sub-para 7.4.1 as under:-

 The condition of General Indemnity Bond will not be applicable to rail users opting for STS concession for a 12 month period, in the form of refund, in terms of Para 5.2 (Revised),  as the traffic will be booked at the prevailing freight rates.

VI.   Charging of freight
       The existing para 7.6 and para 7.7 may be deleted.  The existing provisions may be substituted with the revised paragraphs as under:-

(a)      Fulfilment of commitment over a quarter
        7.6   (Revised)
In the case of rail users who fulfil their commitment on quarterly basis, as per the provisions of Para 5.1, the traffic will be booked at the reduced freight rate in case of “paid” traffic. However, in the case of payment of freight on “to-pay” basis, the traffic will be booked at the prevailing freight rates. The “to-pay” surcharge on prevailing freight rate will be collected at the destination as per the extant rules.  STS concession, for “to-pay” traffic, would be granted on the normal freight rate in the form of refund after the expiry of the quarterly period subject to the fulfilment of commitment in terms of Para 5.1.
(b)        Fulfilment of commitment over 12 months’ period 
7.7   (Revised)
In the case of rail users who opt for fulfilment of their commitment over a period of 12 months in terms of the Para 5.2 (Revised), traffic will be booked at the prevailing freight rates, both in the case of “paid” and “to-pay” traffic. STS concession would be granted in the form of refund after the expiry of the 12 months’ period of the operation of the scheme, subject to the fulfilment of commitment.
The above provisions may be read in conjunction with the Board’s letter of even number dated 06.06.2002 (Rate Instruction No. 36 of 2002)
This issues in consultation with the Finance Directorate in the Ministry of Railways.

(Shiv Dan Singh)
Director, Traffic Comml. (Rates)
Railway Board.

Rate Instruction No. 63 of 2002

  Government of India
Ministry of Railways
Railway Board

The General Manager(Commercial)
South Eastern Railway,
Kolkata.

Sub:-  Inflation in distance for charge over  Kirandul-Kottavalasa Line(K.K.Line)
     - Judgement of RRT/Chennai in Complaint No.1 of 1997 and No.1 of 1998.

  In terms of Board’s XXR wireless message No. TCR/1099/75/2 Vol.II dated 2.5.1981, inflation in distance for charge over  Kirandul-Kottavalasa line  was fixed at  30% (thirty percent) with effect from 01.06.1981.

 2.    In view of the judgement pronounced by the Railway Rates Tribunal(RRT) at Chennai on 09.07.2002 to reduce the inflation in distance on Kirandul-Kottavalasa Line  from thirty percent to twenty percent, the matter has since been reviewed.  Sanction of the Central Government is hereby accorded to reduce the inflation in distance for charge over Kirandul-Kottavalasa line(K.K.Line) from 30%(thirty percent) to 20%(twenty percent) with effect from 09.07.2002. 

3.    This instruction will be applicable to all rail users and to all commodities for booking of traffic over K.K.Line for which the freight will be levied on the basis of actual distance inflated by 20%(twenty percent) with effect from 09.07.2002.

 4.   This issues with the concurrence of Legal and Finance Directorates in the Ministry of Railways.

 5.   GS/IRCA is requested to issue necessary correction slip to IRCA Goods Tariff No.41, Pt.I Vol.I.

 6.   Issue necessary instructions to all concerned.

            (This disposes off S.E.Railway’s letter No. RA.41/184/1/97/RRT/Pt.I dated 12.07.2002)

(Shiv Dan Singh)
Director, Traffic Comml. (Rates)
Railway Board.

Rate Instruction No. 64 of 2002

  Government of India
Ministry of Railways
Railway Board

The General Managers(Comml.) 
All Indian Railways
OSDs,
East Coast Railway, Bhubneshwar
East Central Railway, Hajipur.
North Central Railway,Allahabad
North Western Railway,Jaipur
South Western Railway,Bangalore
West Central Railway,Jabalpur.
Zonal Railway, Bilaspur.

Sub:- Computation of distance when forwarding and destination stations are situated on the same railways but the shortest route is via foreign railway.

Rule 125(1) of IRCA Goods Tariff No.41, Pt.I Vol.I reads as under:- 

            “ Unless there are specific instruction in writing from the sender or his authorised agent to the contrary, goods will be dispatched by the route operationally feasible and freight charges will be levied by the shortest route.”

            At present, the local distance tables are published by the different zonal railways with the instructions that it will be applicable for local bookings only.  Similarly, Junction Distance Table contains the instructions to be used for through booking only.  Accordingly, the chargeable distance between a pair of stations when both the stations are situated over one particular railway (i.e. local traffic) is calculated on the basis of local distance table of concerned railway taking the distance via local junction/junctions wherever necessary.  However, there are situations when this methodology does not satisfy Rule No.125 of the IRCA Goods Tariff No.41 Pt.I Vol.I which provides for charging by the shortest route only.  In other words, even when both forwarding and destination stations are situated on the same zonal railway but the shortest route is via a    foreign railway, the charging is done on the basis of local distance table only even though the chargeable distance may be longer in comparison to the distance via foreign railway.  

The matter was taken up for consideration by Commercial Committee of Interchange.  They have examined the matter and recommended that the word “ for local booking only” appearing on Local Distance Table may be deleted and instead “Rule 125 strictly be followed” may be inserted.  It has been further recommended that in such cases the traffic should be booked with foreign Railway Receipt(RR). 

            The recommendation of CCI has been examined in Board’s office and the same has been accepted.  Sanction of  Central government is hereby accorded to delete the word “ for local booking only” appearing in Local Distance Table and substitute by inserting “Rule 125 strictly be followed”.  In such cases, the traffic should be booked with foreign railway Rail Receipt.

            This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of Railway Board.            

(Shiv Dan Singh)
Director, Traffic Comml. (Rates)
Railway Board.

Rate Instruction No. 65 of 2002

  Government of India
Ministry of Railways
Railway Board

The General Managers (Comml.),
All Indian Railways

Sub:     Transportation of fodder and water to notified drought affected areas of various States free of charge.
Ref: Executive Director, Traffic Comml. (Rates)’s control message No.TCR/1147/2001/1 
dated 31.08.2002 & Letter dated 9.10.2002

All the provisions relating to free transportation of fodder and water by rail to drought affected areas of various states mentioned in Board’s above stated letter will remain valid upto 30.11.02 instead of 31.10.02.  Special care shall be taken by the Railways Traffic Accounts Offices for maintenance of separate account for such bookings.
            This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate in the Ministry of Railways. 

Necessary instructions may be issued to the staff for implementation of these instructions 

(L. Venkataraman)
Director Traffic Comml.(Rates)
Railway Board.

Rate Instruction No. 66 of 2002

  Government of India
Ministry of Railways
Railway Board

The General Managers(Comml.),
All Indian Railways
The General Managers(Optg.),
All Indian Railways.

SUB: Extension of Mini Rake Scheme.
             REF: (i) No.TCR/1017/2000/11 dated 13.9.2001 & 26.11.2001
(ii) No.2001/M(N)/951/45 dated 18.10.2001

With a view to attract short-lead, less-than standard trainload traffic, the Ministry of Railways introduced the Mini Rakes Scheme vide Board’s letter of even no. dated 13.9.2001,  as an experimental measure.
       Sanction of the Central Government is accorded to the extension of the Mini Rake Scheme upto 30.9.2003 subject to fulfilment of the terms and conditions stipulated in Board’s letter of even no. dated 13.9.2001 and amended in letter dated 26.11.2001.
      This scheme was applicable for BCX and BRN wagons only. In addition to the above mentioned stock, Railways are allowed to utilize rakes consisting of 20 BCN wagons for the implementation of the scheme. All other terms and conditions mentioned at  (i) above  remain unchanged.
             Zonal Railways shall submit to Board the additional traffic and earnings generated by the scheme on monthly basis.
             This issues in consultation with the Board’s Traffic Transportation and Mechanical Directorates and with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

(L. Venkataraman)
Director Traffic Comml.(Rates)
Railway Board

Rate Instruction No.67  of 2002

  Government of India
Ministry of Railways
Railway Board

The General Managers (Comml.),
All Indian Railways

Sub:-  Classification of Copper Concentrates (Trainload Class).
 Ref:-  Board’s letter of even number
        (i)  dated 20.03.2001 (Rate Instruction No.28 of 2001) and
 (ii)  dated 07.05.2002 (Rate Instruction No.31 of 2002)

“Copper Concentrates” were tentatively classified at Class-130 for trainloads from 1.4.2001 onwards with temporary extension from time to time.
2.    Sanction of the Central Government is accorded to classify “Copper Concentrates” at Class-130, when traffic is offered in trainloads, beyond 30.9.2002 on regular basis.
3.     All other terms & conditions contained in Board’s letter of even number dated 20.3.2001 (Rate Instruction No.28 of 2001) shall continue to apply.
4.     Railways to monitor traffic offered in Trainloads of the commodity and report of loading and earning upto 31.3.2003 by May,2003.
5.     This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate in the Ministry of  Railways.

(L. Venkataraman)
Director Traffic Comml.(Rates)
Railway Board

Rate Instruction No. 68 of 2002

  Government of India
Ministry of Railways
Railway Board

The General Managers (Comml.),
All Indian Railways

Sub:  Transportation of fodder and water to notified drought affected areas of various States free of charge.
Ref: 1. Board’s letter of even number dated 9.10.2002 (Rate Instruction No.65 of 2002)}
2. Board’s control message of even number dated 09.11.2002. 

Further to this Ministry’s letter of even number dated 9.10.2002 (Rate Instruction No.65 of 2002), sanction of the Central Government is accorded for transportation of fodder and water by rail, free of charge to the notified drought affected districts of various States beyond 31.10.2002 (Thirty First October Two Thousand Two) to 31.12.2002 (Thirty First December Two Thousand Two).
All other terms and conditions stipulated in Board’s above letter continue to apply unchanged.
Special care shall be taken by the Railways Traffic Accounts Office for maintenance of separate account for such bookings.

This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate in the Ministry of Railways.

(L. Venkataraman)
Director Traffic Comml.(Rates)
Railway Board