Ministry of Railways Enhances Senior Citizen Quota

Ministry of Railways Undertakes Rationalization of Lump¬sum Rates for Merry¬go¬round (MGR) System

In terms of a Rail Budget Announcement 2016-17 by Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Following two services were  launced:-

1.      Enhanced Senior Citizen Quota
2.      Rationalization of Lumpsum freight rates for Merry-Go-Round (MGR)

These services were launched today i.e.23 march 2016 by Member Traffic  Railway Board Sh Mohd. Jamshed in  a programme held in Rail Bhawan today.

Following are details of services -

EARMARKING OF SENIOR CITIZEN QUOTA

Ø  This concept was introduced in 2007 vide Commercial Circular No. 40 of 2007 dated 18.04.2007.
Ø  A combined reservation quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper, AC­3 tier and AC­2 tier classes was earmarked for the following category of passengers when travelling alone :­
a)      Senior Citizens
b)     Female Passengers 45 years of age and above; and
c)      Pregnant women

Ø  In 2015, the existing quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper class was enhanced to four lower berths per coach. (Commercial Circular No. 15 of 2015 dated 13.03.2015)

Ø  The condition of providing this quota only when travellingØ alone was relaxed vide Commercial Circular No. 51 of 2015 dated 31.08.2015 and now the facility of booking ticket under this quota is available even when in a single application two passengers are in combination of Senior Citizens/Female Passengers above the age of 45/Pregnant women.
Ø  It has now been decided to enhance this quota to six lower berths per coach in Sleeper class and three lower berths per coach in 3AC and 2AC classes.
Ø  It has also been decided that in Rajdhani, Duronto andØ fully AC Express trains, this quota in 3AC class will be four lower berths per coach as against three lower berths per coach in case of normal Mail/Express trains.

 RATIONALIZATION OF LUMP­SUM RATES FOR MERRY­GO­ROUND (MGR) SYSTEM

PURPOSE: -

Ø  In order to provide an economical and reliable alternative short lead traffic, a revise scheme with rationalized lump­sum ratesfor Merry­-Go­-Round has been formulated.

CONDITIONS : -

Ø  The MGR Terminals at both ends shall be privately owned.
Ø  Rail  track  between  the  two  terminals  will  be  provided  by  the  customer.
Ø  Railways willprovide locos, wagons, brake­-vans and other  rolling stock as per requirement for running of the rakes under  MGR system.
Ø  Terminals at both ends will operate round the clock.
Ø  Lumpsum rates charged under the MGR System would depend upon the number of rakes loaded per day and the lead of traffic.

 BENEFITS :  -

Ø For  18  km  lead, the revised  MGR rates would be  around Rs.47 per  ton  (BOXN  wagons)  for  2-­3  trips  per  day  as  compared  to  road rates of Rs. 72 per ton for the same lead.
Ø Singareni  Collieries  Ltd.  had  committed  to  give  around  3­-4  million tonnes of additional traffic with the rationalized rates in  the next financial year.
Ø The rationalized rates shall come into force from 01.04.2016.


(Release ID :138334)

Source:http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=0