Railways suspends passenger trains till April 14, freight moving 24/7
March 25, 2020: Amid Covid-19 scare and 21-day lockdown in the country, Indian railways has extended the suspension of its passenger trains till April 14, 2020, while ensuring an uninterrupted movement of essential commodities through its freight services.
March 25, 2020: Amid Covid-19 scare and 21-day lockdown in the country, Indian railways has extended the suspension of its passenger trains till April 14, 2020, while ensuring an uninterrupted movement of essential commodities through its freight services.
To monitor the movement of essential commodities over Indian Railway system, an Emergency freight control is working in the Ministry of Railways, monitored by officials at very senior level.
“On March 23, 2020, a total of 474 rakes were loaded for essential commodities like food grains, salt, edible oil, sugar, milk, fruits & vegetables, onion, Coal and Petroleum products. During the day, total 891 rakes were loaded by Indian Railways which also includes other important commodities like 121 rakes of Iron ore, 48 rakes of steel, 25 rakes of cement, 28 rakes of fertilizer and 106 rakes of containers,” says another release of the railway.
Lifeline of India: Railways is dedicated to ensuring that essential goods reach all the citizens amidst #COVID19 lockdown.
Watch paddy being loaded into a freight train in Tamil Nadu, ready to be transported to different parts of the country. pic.twitter.com/crp06ILuJC
To ensure easy movement of freight railways has also introduced measures including, slashing of demurrage and wharfage rates, haulage charge for empty containers and extended free time for removal of consignments.
“Indian Railways has slashed the demurrage and wharfage rates for goods and parcel at half of the prescribed rates. The validity of the rate policies pertaining to goods/container traffic has also been extended by one month i.e. up to 30.04.2020. No haulage charge shall be levied for movement of empty containers/empty flat wagons from 24.03.2020 to 30.04.2020. Free time for loading/unloading of wagons and free time for removal of consignment from railway premises has been increased to double of the prescribed free time,” says the release.