Parliament Question: Waiver of Empty Container Haulage Charges

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2952 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025 WAIVER OF EMPTY CONTAINER HAULAGE CHARGES

2952. SHRI G LAKSHMINARAYANA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of all categories of cargo for which empty container haulage charges are currently waived including the reasons for such waiver, time period for which it has been in effect and the financial cost to the Government, division and route-wise;

(b) the quantity of horticultural crops, specifically bananas, transported via rail from the Tadipatri cluster to ports/other destinations along with the number of rakes and frequency of service;

(c) whether the possibility of waiving empty container haulage charges for banana reefer containers returning to the Tadipatri cluster has been considered and if so, the details thereof including the proposed timeline for implementation;

(d) if not, the reasons for not considering such a waiver; and

(e) the measures considered/being considered to make rail transport economically viable for perishable commodities like bananas and to encourage their export via rail instead of road? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (e) The freight charges for transportation of commodities in -2/---2- containers are determined by Container Train Operators (CTOs) based on market conditions, while Indian Railways levies only the haulage charges for movement of containers. Further, with a view to enhancing the rail modal share in containerized transportation and promoting an environmentally sustainable logistics, certain concessions are provided to traffic from identified areas or clusters to various destinations in haulage of empty container-laden rakes. Accordingly, the following incentives have been introduced to make rail haulage more competitive

and to facilitate faster repositioning of empty containers:  A 50% discount on haulage rate on movement of empty containers- laden rakes returning to Morbi clusters (originating loading cluster) after transportation of Tiles traffic from destinations, implemented on ‘pilot basis’ up to end of FY 2025-26.

 A 50% discount on haulage rate of movement of empty specialized tank containers used for Bulk cement, effective from 04.12.2025.  A 25% discount on haulage rate of movement of empty container- laden rakes returning to the originating loading point after transporting Chemical Gypsum on ‘pilot basis’ for a period of one year with effect from 26.11.2025.

During last 5 years, 24 rakes of Banana traffic in Reefer containers (Refrigerated containers) from Tadipatri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust

(JNPT) were transported.

In order to facilitate the transportation of agriculture products, Indian

Railway has taken various measures such as:  Power has been delegated to Zonal Railways to reduce the composition of Parcel Rakes for transportation of mixed perishables -3/---3- goods traffic including fruits and vegetables up to 15 Parcel vans plus 1 SLR instead of standard composition of 20 Parcel vans plus 1 SLR.

 Further, Orange, Mango and Banana traffic when moved in BCN/BCNA/BCX/BCXN Rakes are charged at concessional Parcel Rates (Scale-P minus 50%).

Potential circuits for movement of vegetables, fruits and other perishables are identified in consultation with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Agriculture / Animal Husbandry/ Fisheries Departments of State Governments as well as local bodies and agencies, Mandis etc., and Kisan Rail service are planned on the basis of demands placed taking into consideration and operational feasibility.

Since the launch of Kisan Rail services on 7th August 2020, Railways have operated around 2364 Kisan Rail services, transporting approximately 7.9 Lakh tones of perishables. *****