Rail Ministry issues policy to augment terminal capacity through private participation

The Railway Ministry on Thursday issued a policy on setting up of new goods shed facilities and developing new ones at small and road-side stations for augmenting terminal capacity through private participation.

The main feature of the ‘Policy on Development of Goods-sheds at small/road-side stations through Private Investment’ is that private parties have been permitted to develop goods wharf, loading and unloading facilities, labour resting space with shade, drinking water, bathing facilities, approach road, covered shed and other related infrastructure.

All developments for the proposed facility would be according to approved Railway designs and constructed to approved railway standards and specifications. No departmental or any other charge for the construction would be levied by the railways, the policy stated.

The facilities created by the private player shall be used as a common user facility and no preference or priority will be granted to the traffic of the party over the traffic of other customers.

The responsibility for maintenance of assets and facilities created shall be vested with the party during the agreement period. Incentives include share in terminal charges and terminal access charges for inward and outward traffic dealt at the goods shed for five years, from the date of completion of the work, the document stated.

The party seeking the least share in terminal charges and terminal access charges shall be selected through competitive bidding, to be done at divisional level, it said.