Indian Railways to levy 2% surcharge and terminal charge on freights
It is reported that Indian Railway has decided to levy a 2% surcharge as development charge and additional terminal handling charge of INR 10 per tonne per terminal with effect from July 1st 2007. The terminal charges will be levied for bulk and loose traffic on terminals and sidings owned by Indian Railways only and not on the siding owned by customers. Both load and unloading of goods at terminals would attract INR 10 surcharge each.
Indian Railways in an order said that "These charges will be levied on loading and unloading terminals independently and separately on the basis of chargeable weight at the time of issue of railway receipt."
However, Indian Railways has spared those firms with whom it has already entered into long term contracts while levying the 2% surcharge, allowing them to use parcel and luggage vans on lease till the contract period ends.
As per report, as Indian Railways aiming to load 785 million tonnes of goods in 2007-08, these charges would give Indian Railway an earning of over INR 1400 crore during the year.
As per report, Indian Railways has specified that the proceeds of development surcharge on parcel and luggage would go towards funding the dedicated freight corridor project, it has not done so for the 2% surcharge levied on goods traffic.
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