Mamata takes steps to up Railways' freight business

Indian Railways is taking several measures to improve freight traffic on Railways.

Presenting the Railway Budget in Parliament on Friday, railway minister Mamata Banerjee said that besides improving the loading of coal, iron ore, cement, fertilisers and food grain, measures are being taken to increase the share in new traffic streams like automobiles, fly ash etc.

The minister said a premium service for container movement with assured transit time was under consideration for time sensitive cargo.

She said that permission to access private sidings will be given to containers which will help in attracting piecemeal traffic presently not being carried by Railways.

The Railways will also encourage private ownership of special purpose rolling stock for commodities and private operation of freight terminals. Very soon, a new policy would be unveiled to allow construction and operation of private freight terminals and multi-modal logistic parks.

Banerjee said that Railways are in process of brining together state governments and major logistics players to set up logistics parks co-habited by multiple players through participative funding. Mega logistics hubs are also being planned alongside the proposed Eastern and Western dedicated freight corridors, she added. -- PIB