- Revised distance-based tariff aims to lower transportation cost of wheat, rice and flour
- Railways urges farmers and traders to shift bulk foodgrain movement from road to rail
Srinagar | July,31: Northern Railway’s Jammu Division has rationalised freight rates for the rail transportation of essential foodgrains, including wheat, rice and flour, in a move aimed at reducing logistics costs, improving supply chains and helping keep prices of essential commodities affordable.
The revised freight structure introduces a distance-based tariff under which transportation up to 1,000 kilometres will continue at ₹1.55 per tonne per kilometre, while freight for distances between 1,001 and 3,000 kilometres has been reduced to ₹1.15 per tonne per kilometre. The same rate of ₹1.15 per tonne per kilometre will also apply to consignments transported beyond 3,001 kilometres, making long-distance rail movement more economical.
Railway officials said the revised rates are expected to encourage farmers and traders to increasingly use rail transport for bulk movement of foodgrains instead of road transport.
According to the Jammu Division, lower freight costs are likely to reduce transportation expenses, improve market availability of wheat, rice and flour, and help stabilise retail prices for consumers.
The move is also expected to minimise disruptions caused by frequent closures of national highways in Jammu and Kashmir due to heavy rainfall, snowfall and landslides, ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential commodities through rail transport.
Officials said rail transportation also offers advantages such as bulk handling, reduced damage to goods during transit and lower environmental impact by reducing the number of trucks on roads, thereby cutting fuel consumption, traffic congestion and vehicular emissions.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, Uchit Singhal, said the freight rationalisation forms part of the Railways’ people-centric initiatives to make transportation of essential commodities more economical, safe and timely.
He urged farmers, traders and bulk consumers to make greater use of railway services for transporting foodgrains and avail the benefits of the revised freight structure.
