Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 6: Northern Railway has implemented a new freight rate structure for Roll-on/Roll-off i.e. Ro-Ro traffic with the objective of making freight movement more affordable, transparent and competitive. Talking about Ro-Ro, in simple terms it 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.
Under the new policy, the charge will 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. 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 and Development Charge have now been completely abolished, which will give customers an additional benefit of about 20 percent. Earlier it was mandatory for transporters to commit traffic and book for a round trip, along with a 5% 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% per truck.
This 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 & 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. |
