E-freight in India - Cargo Talk

during the last three years was `2699.83
crore (2008-2009); `4151.31 crore
(2009-2010) and `5516.05 crore (2010-
2011) respectively. For the government
to accomplish its zealous target of 20 km
a day or `10,000 crore of Toll revenue,
in the next four years, it will have to
incorporate prudent policy changes for
seamless growth of the road sector in
India,” he said.
In a recent letter to Dr. Manmohan
Singh, Prime Minister, Government of
Budh Prakash
India, AIMTC appealed to take some
pragmatic initiatives as a respite to the
truckers, from day to day hardships, at the
Toll Plazas across the country.
Shanmugappa argues that if their
recommendations are followed, the
government will get more revenue than
at present, even if all other road users
are allowed Toll free movement on the
Highways. In addition, it will help in
seamless transportation and result in
savingus both diesel and time. It will also
reduce the need for drivers to carry cashin-hand
en-route and thus ease pricing
pressure on the trucking industry.
“This will also increase the average
trip of truck, from 250 km per day to 400
km per day, resulting in robust and timely
transportation of goods and material and
avoiding unnecessary inventories and
delays,” he added.
In his opinion, reduction of Toll
hassles will allow barrier free movement
of National Permit Vehicles, on the lines
of ‘Green Channel’ facility. Dedicated
lanes may be allocated for free movement
of commercial vehicles, at all Toll
Plazas having the Smart Card or National
Toll Permit.
Plight of Private
Container Train
Operators
The Indian Railways had decided to
invite private companies to run container
trains to enhance service quality and
competiveness in order to benefit end
users. However, after about three years,
it seems the Ministry of Railways still has
to go a long way to attain its goal. The
ground reality remains the same, with
respect to traffic congestions and unfair
costing imposed on the private players.
Haulage charges, for instance, have
become one of the most critical areas
that need to be addressed, at the earliest,
to streamline both domestic and exim
cargo movement by railways, which is less
than 30 per cent of total cargo movement
in the country.
CARGOTALK OCTOBER 2011 21