July 12, 2020: In a surprise move, Container Corporation of Indian Limited (CONCOR) surrendered its 16 terminals throughout the country to respective Zonal Railways as part of cost-cutting measure. Among the terminal that were vacated includes Inland Container Depot (ICD) in operation at Ajni and another ICD that was very recently developed at Raipur too was vacated by CONCOR May 14, 2020. Railway Board notified Zonal Railways about the surrender or depots and land on part of CONCOR on July 6, 2020. CONCOR said it decision stem from abnormal hike in land licence fee (LLF) on part of the Railways. It became imperative for Railway PSU to rationalise its land-holding across the country to stay afloat in competitive market.
The steep hike on part of Railways rendered ICD operations uncompetitive as already the competition from road sector has put brakes on hiking the freight rates. A review was taken by CONCOR Board and it was decided to divest terminals that were loss-making and ones where duplication of work was involved. As to city, CONCOR has already started its operation from Khapri side thereby rending Ajni terminal surplus and hence same was handed back to Central Railway on April 17, 2020. Another problem with Ajni was its geographical location, it was in mid-city, that led to problems in movement of container trucks. From safety point of road-users curbs were imposed on movement of heavy trucks within city limit by Traffic Control Branch of Nagpur City Police.
Therefore since long, CONCOR was looking forward to shifting its operation to place outside city limits where it can ensure 24×7 movement of heavy trailers and trucks so that operations of loading and unloading can be done faster. However, All India Railwaymen Federation (AIRF) has criticised the move of CONCOR saying it amounts to divestment of its stake in railway public sector unit (PSU) by Government of India. The move does not augur well for country and its economy as the surrender of 18 well developed container depots (including 26.58 Acre TNPM Container Depot & 4.15 Acre MVN Depot to Southern Railway on 01/7 and 03/7/2020) citing unviability of them for business, would also result in job cuts at these terminals.
AIRF further contended that when Railways itself has distanced itself from its PSU on ground of absence of profit, how will corporates run passenger train by investing Rs 30,000 crore. So in future, if private companies too cease operation just like CONCOR wherein Railways diluted its state, what would happen to interest of travellers.
The union contended that Central Government cannot shirk its responsibility in strategic and complex transport like Railways and cannot expect private companies to operate it. The process of vacating ICDs on Railways’ land was initiated from March 2018 onwards when Rewari terminal was closed by CONCOR. Thereafter, one after another facility was shut down and last one that was handed over was DCT Okhla on July 1, 2020. Apart from 16 existing terminals that were shut by CONCOR, some of land at TNPM (26.58 acres) and Milavittan (4.15 acres) to was vacated. The Board said CONCOR has also sounded it out to move out of Fatuha (near Patna) from August 1.
Surrendered terminals to be developed as goods shed Railway Board has suggested that CONCOR terminals that have been surrendered can be developed as goods shed by the respective divisions. Particularly in city, the only goods shed that was in operation at Nagpur Railway Station was closed down. Now since, CONCOR had developed various facilities including godowns at Ajni ICD, same could come in handy for Central Railway to promote good traffic. Already, officials of Commercial Branch are scouting for prospective clients to set-up base for loading of goods in bulk. One possibility that emerges is offering the base on long lease to cement companies who can stock up and thereafter load them in goods rake. Board also advised zones to consider notifying the said ex-ICD as Container Rail Terminals (CRTs) as this would enable divisions to operate container trains from said places.
Source: The Hitavada
