Railways announces unified licensing for container train operations

Indian Railways has simplified its container train operation norms, shifting to a unified licensing regime for the same. Announcing the reform, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said this new license will allow running container trains on all routes, simplifying the existing regime. The minister also announced a rationalised the tariff for fertiliser freight and allowed carrying them in containers.

“Existing Container Train Operator (CTO) licenses are grouped into four categories. This will be unified under the reforms,” the minister said, adding the move will encourage more private participation in containerised trade.

In a bid to ease fertiliser movement in containers, Vaishnaw said the existing fertiliser freight table with 50 slabs is being revised.


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An official statement said the freight structure is being revised to per km per ton basis with three variations - flat followed by tapering and then followed by flat structure.

The minister said individual containers carrying fertilisers can be stored at the rake point, instead of detaining the entire rake. The distribution can be done as per the demand and pick up facility of the distributor, the statement added.

Vaishnaw also announced tighter contract terms for construction tenders on the national transporter.