Team News Riveting
New Delhi, October 15
The Ministry of Railways had unveiled a policy for developing goods-sheds at small and road-side stations through Private Investment.
The policy aims at augmenting terminal capacity through private participation by allowing setting up of new goods-shed facilities and developing existing goods-sheds that Railways are unable to do due to lack of resources. A large number of stations could be covered under the plan.
Under the policy, private parties would be permitted to develop goods wharf, loading and unloading facilities, facilities for labour (resting space with shade, drinking water, bathing facilities, etc) approach road, covered shed and other related infrastructure.
The private parties would create and develop the facilities.
All developments for the proposed facility would be as per approved Railway designs, and constructed to approved Railway standards and specifications. Railways shall not levy any departmental or any other charges for the construction.
The facilities created by the private party 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. Responsibility for maintenance of assets and facilities created shall be vested with the party during the agreement period.
The incentives include share in the Terminal Charges (TC) and Terminal Access Charges (TAC), as the case may be, for all the inward and outward traffic dealt at the goods-shed for five years, from the date of completion of the work.
The party seeking the least share (TC/TAC) shall be selected through competitive bidding, to be done At Divisional Level. Additional revenue for party through – utilization of available space for establishing small canteen/tea-shop, advertisements, etc
