JOIN USRailways has opened up its parcel services to private sector. Now, private operators can collect small and large parcels and send it through container trains. The container trains would be operated by private players.
With this initiative, Railways expects an increase in revenue . “We also hope to free our platforms from loading and unloading of parcels in passenger trains,” an official told DH.
Announcing the liberalised parcel policy, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday said: “Parcel business is increasing as it is a fast moving sector. We want to increase our parcel share which is currently not much.”
He said Railways would be tying up with the Department of Posts which will soon be rolling out a new policy to expand its parcel service.
A new mechanism will come into effect after the new policy is implemented. According to it, Container Train Operators (CTO) will operate parcel special trains consisting of parcel vans. A parcel special train will have 20 parcel vans.
“The private container train operators will play the role of an aggregator. Railways will only provide the facility of moving them to the destination,” member of Traffic Railway Board, Jamshed, told DH.