Starting November 1, online registration for transportation of goods with the Railways will be compulsory. The Ministry of Railways has made this mandatory in order to digitise its records. Issuing a notification on Monday, the ministry said the move has been undertaken “with the objective of achieving digitalisation, minimising detention to rolling stock and streamlining transactions in freight business.”
“It has been decided that electronic registration of indent for wagons will be mandatory for all kinds of traffic except (i) Military Traffic, (ii) Traffic moved under natural calamities, disasters etc. as relief measure and (iii) any traffic for which PCCM may permit physical registration of indent in emergent situation including force majeure,” the circular stated.
In case of container traffic, the existing Demand cum Release module will continue to be applicable.
The new policy will replace the current practice of approaching goods clerks to register demand for wagons, and necessary changes in the digital infrastructure will be undertaken by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and Freight Operations Information Systems (FOIS).
“Necessary modifications shall be introduced into the system by CRIS/FOIS to enable e-RD (registration of demand) as default option for registration of demand for wagons,” the railway ministry notification said.
Meanwhile, under its ‘Mission Hungry for Cargo’ initiative, Railways is targeting a 45 per cent modal share in freight transportation from the current 27 per cent. The national transporter aims to record 2000 million tonne by 2024.
Additionally, the railway ministry has also digitised the entire process of applying for and awarding of non-fare revenue contracts like parking lot operations, parcel space, and commercial publicity.
