The Hindu Business Line : Rlys hikes haulage charges for container operations

Within hours of announcing a reduction in haulage charges for the Jaipur-Pipavav Port route, the Indian Railways has quietly brought about an across- the-board increase in haulage charges for containerised operations.

The increase ranges from five per cent to as high as 84 per cent depending on the distance and weight slabs, said reliable sources.

The move is important in the backdrop of the Railways' recent claims that it has not been increasing tariffs.

Uniform charges

Moreover, the Railways has also introduced uniform haulage charges for domestic and export-import traffic.

Earlier, it used to levy a lower haulage rate for domestic traffic while the haulage rates for Exim traffic were higher.

The move would result in an increased cost for Container Corporation of India (Concor), as well as other private operators who plan to offer containerised services.

This may further result in an increase in charges for all users of containerised cargo if Concor decides to pass on the hike in costs.

Also, the Railways has done away with the concept of levying wagon maintenance charges to Concor separately— it has now built in that charge into the hike in haulage rates.

Till date, the Railways charged wagon maintenance charge of five per cent of the updated capital cost of wagon.

Another move that would affect Concor as well other players is the Railways decision to appoint a Railway staff at all the inland container depots (ICDs) maintained by the operators.

This move would basically ensure that there is no under-reporting of traffic by the operator.