Notification of Amendment to the Indian Railways (permission for operators to move container trains on Indian Railways) Rules, 2006
Issued by Ministry of Railways · Railway Board
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Railways on 12th August 2026. Classified under Extra Ordinary.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
Executive Summary The Ministry of Railways has notified the Indian Railways (permission for operators to move container trains on Indian Railways) Amendment Rules, 2026, effective from August 12, 2026. The amendment introduces a single unified All India Container Train Operator (CTO) license and updates registration fees, eligibility criteria, and concession periods. Key deadlines include the immediate commencement of these rules upon their publication in the Official Gazette.
Key Points / Main Content
Licensing and Regulation
- Unified License: A single unified "All India Container Train Operator (CTO)" license will now be granted to operate container trains on all routes of the Indian Railways network.
- Validity and Extension: Permissions are valid for 20 years from the date of commercial operation. This can be extended by another 20 years based on satisfactory performance without any extension or renewal fees for subsequent extensions.
Eligibility and Fees
- Insolvency Restrictions: Any company declared insolvent or bankrupt under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, is ineligible to apply for container train operations, whether individually or in association.
- Registration Fees: New applicants must deposit a non-refundable registration fee of INR 25 crores to operate on all routes of the Indian Railways network.
- Legal Updates: References to the "Act, 1956" in the original rules are updated to "Act, 2013."
Provisions for Existing Operators
- Category-I Operators: Existing Category-I operators will continue until their concession period ends and will not be charged any fee for renewal or extension when transitioning to the new CTO license.
- Category-II, III, and IV Operators: These operators will continue in their current categories until the end of their concession periods.
- Migration and Renewal Fees: Operators in Category-II, III, and IV must pay a non-refundable deposit of INR 15 crores to renew their concession or migrate to the new unified CTO license before their 20-year term expires.
Impact Analysis
Prospective Container Train Operators Impact New entrants face a standardized entry process with a single license for all routes but must comply with a non-refundable INR 25 crore registration fee. Action Required Ensure financial eligibility and submit the required non-refundable deposit of INR 25 crores along with the application.
Existing Category-I Operators Impact These operators benefit from a fee-exempt transition to the unified All India CTO license. Action Required Apply for renewal or extension under the new unified license framework as the current concession period nears expiry.
Existing Category-II, III, and IV Operators Impact These operators are required to pay INR 15 crores if they wish to migrate to the unified CTO license or renew their existing concessions. Action Required Determine the timing for migration or renewal and arrange for the INR 15 crore non-refundable deposit.
Insolvent or Bankrupt Companies Impact Companies undergoing insolvency proceedings or declared bankrupt are strictly barred from participating in container train operations. Action Required No action permitted as these entities are disqualified from applying.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railways (permission for operators to move container trains on Indian Railways) Rules, 2006: The principal rules being amended to regulate the licensing and operation of container trains on the Indian Railways network.
Railways Act, 1989: The enabling legislation under which the Central Government exercises powers to frame and amend rules for railway operations.
Ministry of Railways: The primary regulatory authority and government department responsible for issuing the notification and overseeing container rail policy.
Single unified all India Container Train Operator (CTO) license: The primary initiative introduced by the amendment to grant a consolidated license for operating container trains on all routes of Indian Railways.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016: The law referenced to establish eligibility criteria, barring insolvent or bankrupt companies from applying for container train operator licenses.
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रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-13082026-275439
CG-DxLx-xEG-I1D3H0x8x2x0 26-275439
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 663] नई दिल्ली, बुधवार, अगस्ट्त 12, 2026/श्रावण 21, 1948
No. 663] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026/SHRAVAN 21, 1948
रेल मत्रं ालय
(रेल बोडड)
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 12 अगस्ट् त, 2026
सा.का.जन. 727(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, रेल अजधजनयम, 1989 (1989 का 24) की धारा 198 द्वारा प्रित्त
िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, भारतीय रेल (भारतीय रेल पर कंटेनर गाज़ियों को चलान े के जलए ऑपरेटर को अनुज्ञा)
जनयम, 2006 में और संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती ह,ै अर्ाडत:्--
1. संजिप्त नाम और प्रारंभ—(1) इन जनयमों का संजिप्त नाम भारतीय रेल (भारतीय रेल पर कंटेनर गाज़ियों को
चलाने के जलए ऑपरेटर को अनज्ञु ा) संिोधन जनयम, 2026 ह ै।
(2) ये जनयम रािपत्र म ेंउनके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रवत्तृ होंग े।
6224 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
2. भारतीय रेल (भारतीय रेल पर कंटेनर गाज़ियों को चलाने के जलए ऑपरेटर को अनुज्ञा) जनयम, 2006 (जिसे इसमें
इसके पश्चात ् उि जनयम कहा गया ह)ै के जनयम 3 म,ें “अजधजनयम, 1956” िब्ि और अंकों के स्ट्र्ान पर, “अजधजनयम,
2013” िब्ि और अंक रख ेिाएंगे।
3. उि जनयमों म,ें जनयम 7 के स्ट्र्ान पर, जनम्नजलजखत जनयम रखा िाएगा, अर्ाडत्:--
“7. रेल कंटेनर आपरेटरों का जवजनयमन--कंटेनर रेल ऑपरेटर को भारतीय रेल नेटवकड के सभी मागों पर
कंटेनर गाज़ियां चलान े के जलए एकल एकीकृत अजखल भारतीय कंटेनर रेल ऑपरेटर (सीटीओ) अनुज्ञजप्त प्रिान की
िाएगी।”
4. उि जनयमों के जनयम 8 म,ें उपजनयम (3) के स्ट्र्ान पर, जनम्नजलजखत उपजनयम रखा िाएगा, अर्ाडत:्-
“(3) कोई कंपनी, जिसे दिवाला और िोधन अिमता संजहता, 2016 (2016 का 31) के अधीन दिवाजलया या
िोधन अिम घोजित दकया गया है, वह अकेल े या अन्य कंपजनयों के सार् जमलकर, कंटेनर गाज़िया चलाने के जलए
आवेिन करन े की पात्र नहीं होगी।”
5. उि जनयमों के जनयम 10 म,ें उपजनयम (1) के स्ट्र्ान पर, जनम्नजलजखत उपजनयम रखा िाएगा, अर्ाडत्:--
“(1) प्रत्येक आवेिक को, कंटेनर गाज़ियां आपरेट करन े के जलए आविे न िमा करते समय, भारतीय रेल नेटवकड
के सभी मागों के जलए पच्चीस करो़ि रुपये की अप्रजतिेय पंिीकरण फीस िमा करना अपेजित होगा।”
6. उि जनयमों म,ें जनयम 11 के स्ट्र्ान पर, जनम्नजलजखत जनयम रखा िाएगा, अर्ाडत:्--
11. अनुमजत िेन े की रीजत--(1) श्रेणी - 1 के अधीन पंिीकृत ऑपरेटर ररयायत अवजध की समाजप्त तक उसी
श्रेणी म ेंआपरेट करना िारी रखेंगे:
परंत ु भारतीय रेल नेटवकड के सभी मागों के जलए नए एकल एकीकृत अजखल भारतीय कंटेनर रेल
ऑपरेटर (सीटीओ) अनुज्ञजप्त म ें उनकी ररयायत अवजध के नवीनीकरण के जलए उनसे कोई जवस्ट्तार या नवीकरण
फीस नहीं ली िाएगी।
(2) श्रेणी-2, श्रेणी-3 और श्रेणी-4 में पंिीकृत ऑपरेटर, अपनी ररयायत अवजध की समाजप्त तक उसी श्रेणी म ें
ऑपरेट करना िारी रखेंगे।
(3) भारतीय रेल नेटवकड के सभी मागों के जलए नए एकल एकीकृत अजखल भारतीय कंटेनर रेल ऑपरेटर
(सीटीओ) अनुज्ञजप्त में ररयायत अवजध के नवीनीकरण या जवस्ट्तार के जलए, श्रेणी-2, श्रेणी-3 और श्रणे ी-4 के अधीन
पंिीकृत ऑपरेटरों को पंद्रह करो़ि रुपय ेकी रकम िमा करनी होगी, िो अप्रजतिेय होगी।
(4) श्रेणी-2, श्रेणी-3 और श्रेणी-4 के अधीन ऑपरेटर भारतीय रेल नेटवकड के सभी मागों के जलए ररयायत
अवजध के बीस विड पूरे होने से पहले नए एकल एकीकृत अजखल भारतीय कंटेनर रेल ऑपरेटर (सीटीओ) अनज्ञु जप्त
में स्ट्र्ानांतररत हो सकेंग,े जिसके जलए पंद्रह करो़ि रुपय ेिमा करने होंग,े िो अप्रजतिेय होंगे ।
7. उि जनयमों के जनयम 13 म,ें उपजनयम (1) के स्ट्र्ान पर, जनम्नजलजखत उपजनयम रखा िाएगा, अर्ाडत्:--[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
“(1) अनुमजत की वैधता ऑपरेटर द्वारा कंटेनर रेलों के वाजणजययक संचालन की तारीख स े बीस विड की अवजध
के जलए होगी और सिम प्राजधकारी द्वारा, यर्ाजस्ट्र्जत, उसी पाटी या ऑपरेटर को, उसके आवेिन पर, जबना दकसी
जवस्ट्तार फीस के सतं ोििनक प्रििडन के अधीन अनुमजत की वधै ता की समाजप्त के पश्चात ् अनमु जत को बीस वि ड तक
बढाया िा सकेगा:
परंत ु उसी ऑपरेटर को पश्चात्वती जवस्ट्तार जबना दकसी जवस्ट्तार या नवीकरण फीस के होंगे।”
[फा. सं. 2024/टीटी-III/73/1]
सय्यि अब्िलु रहमान, कायडकारी जनिेिक, यातायात पररवहन(कोयला)
रटप्पण : मूल जनयम, भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखंड (i) में अजधसूचना संख्या सा.का.जन. 593(अ),
तारीख 26 जसतंबर, 2006 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए र्े और उनम ें अजधसूचना संख्या सा.का.जन. 429(अ),
तारीख 14 िून, 2007 द्वारा अजं तम बार संिोधन दकया गया र्ा ।
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(Railway Board)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 12th August, 2026
G.S.R. 727(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by section 198 of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), the
Central Government hereby makes the following rules, further to amend the Indian Railways (permission for operators
to move container trains on Indian Railways) Rules, 2006, namely: –
1. Short title and commencement. – (1) These rules may be called the Indian Railways (permission for
operators to move container trains on Indian Railways) Amendment Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Indian Railways (permission for operators to move container trains on Indian Railways) Rules,
2006(hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in rule 3, for the word and figures “Act, 1956” , the word and figures
“Act, 2013” shall be substituted.
3. In the said rules, for rule 7,the following rule shall be substituted, namely: –
“7. Regulation of Rail Container Operations. –The Container Train Operator shall be granted a
single unified all India Container Train Operator (CTO) license to run container trains on all routes of
Indian Railways network.”.
4. In the said rules, in rule 8, for sub-rule (3), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: –
“(3) Any company which has been declared insolvent or bankrupt, as the case may be, under the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (31 of 2016) shall not be eligible to apply to operate container trains either
individually or in association with other companies.”.
5. In the said rules, in rule 10, for sub-rule (1), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: –
“(1) At the time of submission of application to operate container train every applicant shall be required to
deposit a non-refundable registration fee of rupees twenty-five crores for all routes on the Indian Railways
network.”.
6. In the said rules, for rule 11 the following rule shall be substituted, namely: –4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
“11. Modalities of granting permission.–(1) The operator(s) registered under Category - I,
shall continue to operate in the same category till completion of the concession period:
Provided that they shall not be charged any extension or renewal fee for renewal of their
concession period in the new single unified all India Container Train Operator (CTO) license for all
routes of Indian Railways network.
(2) The operator(s) registered in Category-II, III and IV, shall continue to operate in the same category
till the completion of their concession period.
(3) For the renewal or extension of concession period in the new single unified all India Container Train
Operator (CTO) license for all routes of Indian Railways network, the operator(s) registered under
Category-II, III and IV shall be required to deposit an amount of rupees fifteen crores which shall be
non-refundable
(4) The operatorsunder Category-II, III and IV may migrate to the new single unified all India Container
Train Operator (CTO) license for all routes of Indian Railways network before completion of twenty
years concession period, by depositing rupees fifteen crores which shall be non-refundable.”.
7. In the said rules, in rule 13, for sub-rule (1), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: –
“(1) The validity of permission shall be for a period of twenty years from the commercial operation date
of container trains by the operator and the permission can be extended by twenty years after expiry of
the validity of the permission, by the Competent Authority to the same party or operator, as the case
may be, on his application, subject to satisfactory performance without any extension fee to be charged:
Provided that subsequent extensions to the same operator shall be without any extension or
renewal fee.”.
[F. No. 2024/TT-III/73/1]
SYED ABDUL RAHMAN, Executive Director, Traffic, Transportation (Coal)
Note: - The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II,Section 3, Sub-section (i),
vide notification number G.S.R. 593(E) dated the 26th September, 2006 and was lastly amended vide
notification number G.S.R. 429 (E), dated the 14th June, 2007.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.