Focusing on wagon development for new commodities
The Ministry of Railways organised the third edition of the Conference on Wagon Development for New Commodities here, the objective of which was to evolve innovative solutions for transportation challenges in the automobile, steel, cement, foodgrain and other special commodities segments and to chart out a roadmap to exploit the market potential in the freight segment of the Indian Railways. The attempt is to find workable solutions to transportation challenges pertaining to rail by involving major stakeholders in freight operations.
Inaugurating the conference, Member (Rolling Stock), Railway Board, Mr Rajesh Agrawal, said the aim is that 45 per cent of total freight movement in the country should be by rail. He said that once the Dedicated Freight Corridors become a reality, there would be substantial increase in the speed of freight movement by rail. He complimented RDSO for fast implementation of new designs of freight wagons. Other members of Railway Board, senior officials from Railways, RDSO, CONCOR and industry representatives were present.
Based on the discussion with various stakeholders in the last conference, five designs were identified for wagon development. With a specific timeline and focused approach, the designing time for the wagons has reduced from one and a half year to six months. Follow up to the earlier conferences also facilitated meaningful interaction between Indian Railways and stakeholders.
