Compendium: Demurrage, Stabling, Wharfage, Stacking, Waiver and Write Off
Compendium: Demurrage, Stabling, Wharfage, Stacking, Waiver and Write Off
Compendium: Demurrage, Stabling, Wharfage, Stacking, Waiver and Write Off
COMPENDIUM
Guidelines regarding
As prescribed vide
Dated 19.05.2016
and
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Compendium_ Demurrage-Wharfage-Waiver
Index
CHAPTER-I
S.No.
Sub: Guidelines regarding Demurrage and Stabling Para No.
1. Demurrage charge 1.0
2. Free time for loading and unloading of wagons 2.0
3. Free time for loading/unloading of wagons at railway terminals and 2.2
private/assisted sidings which do not work on ‘Engine-on-load(EOL)’
basis
4. Additional free time in the case of private/assisted sidings 2.2.1
5. Reckoning of free time in case of railway terminals viz.goods 2.2.2
shed/railway siding/public siding and such private/assisted sidings where
placement/release of rake is done through railway’s locomotive
6. Reckoning of free time in case of private/assisted siding where 2.2.3 &
placement/release of rake is done through siding owner’s locomotive 2.2.4
7. Free time for loading/unloading of wagons and allowances applicable in 2.3
the case of seven old steel plants
8. Free time for loading/unloading of wagons and allowances in case of steel 2.4
plants other than seven old steel plants
9. Free time for loading/unloading of various types of block rakes in the case 2.5
of freight terminals/sidings/steel plants/goods sheds worked on ‘Engine-
on-load(EOL)’ basis
10. Rates of Demurrage charge 3.0
11. Penal Demurrage Charge 3.4
12. Uniform working hours and business hours for railway goods 4.0
sheds/sidings - Incentive for extended working hours and immediate
removal of goods
13. Levy of demurrage charge in case of multiparty/multi-consignor or multi- 5.0
consignee rakes
14. Guidelines for levy of stabling charge and demurrage charge on privately 6.0
owned wagons
15. Guidelines for levy of demurrage charge on wagons procured under “own 7.0
your wagon scheme (category-a & b)” or jointly owned wagons
16. Miscellaneous 8.0
CHAPTER-II
S.No. Sub: Rules regarding Wharfage and Stacking Para No.
1. Wharfage charge 1.0
2. Classification of railway premises 2.0
3. Permissible free time for removal of goods from railway premises 3.0
4. Rates of Wharfage charge 4.0
5. Wharfage rules in case of livestock booked under goods tariff 5.0
6. Levy of Higher Wharfage Charges 6.0
7. Guidelines for advance stacking at railway premises 7.0
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CHAPTER-III
S.No. Sub: Rules regarding waiver and write off Para No.
1. Power of officers to waive Demurrage or Wharfage charge 1.0
2. Waiver 2.0
3. Appeal against orders of waiver 3.0
4. Refund 5.0
5. Waiver of Stacking Charge 7.0
6. Waiver of Stabling Charge 8.0
7. Write off of Demurrage/Wharfage 9.0
8. Write off of Stacking Charge 10.0
9. Recovery of Railway Dues 11.0
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Compendium_ Demurrage-Wharfage-Waiver
CHAPTER-I
Demurrage Charge is levied for the detention of railway’s rolling stock after the expiry of
free time, if any, allowed for such detention.
2.1 Free time for loading and unloading for different types of wagons (either BG or MG) and
allowances (if any) at railway terminals (like goods sheds, railway sidings, public
sidings) and private/assisted sidings which do not work on Engine-on-load(EOL) basis;
seven old steel plants; other steel plants which do not work on Engine-on-load(EOL)
basis and freight terminals/sidings/steel plants/goods sheds which work on EOL basis are
given in Paras 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5, respectively.
2.1.1 As and when new types of wagons are introduced, free time mentioned herein shall
automatically apply to the wagons depending upon the type of wagons.
2.1.2 The entire group of wagons placed for loading/unloading shall be treated as one unit for
the purpose of levy of demurrage charges i.e. even if one wagon out of the group is
detained for loading/unloading beyond the prescribed free time, demurrage will be
leviable on all the wagons in the group.
2.1.3 Zonal Railways should make efforts through constant dialogue with Rail users to develop
the infrastructure for efficient handling of wagons to reduce the terminal detention and
hence improve wagon availability.
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above)
Permissible free time (in hours : minutes)
Type of Wagons
MECHANIZED MANUAL
Loading Unloading Loading Unloading
2.2(a)(viii) TANK wagons 7:00
(black oil viz. light diesel (upto 29
oil, furnace oil, carbon wagons)
black feed stock, low
7:00 N.A. N.A.
sulphur heavy stock, heavy 9:00
petroleum stock, vacuum (30 wagons &
gas oil etc.) more)
In order to improve the utilization of alternate goods sheds, Zonal Railways (PCCM in
consultation with PCOM) may increase the free time for loading/unloading of wagons and/or
free time for removal of consignment, uptp 50% of the normal free time. These guidelines are
valid upto 10.01.2022.
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2.2(c) Delegation of power to zonal railways to reduce free time for loading of rakes of coal
and/or iron ore
Zonal Railways have been empowered to reduce permissible free time for loading of rakes of
coal and/or iron-ore to 3(three) hours, as per the provisions given below-
PCCM, in consultation with PCOM, will notify sidings/goods sheds where two or more rakes
of coal and/or iron-ore are being loaded from a single line
For such terminals, permissible free time for mechanized loading would be 3(three) hours,
irrespective of whether the siding is notified for EOL or otherwise. Zonal Railway will also
notify the type of stock (BOXN, BOBR etc.), time period and any other condition to which
reduced free time will be applicable.
Two weeks’ notice will be given to such terminals before the reduced free time is made
applicable. Requisite updation in CRIS/FOIS will also be ensured before its implementation
(a) In the case of private/assisted sidings which are not notified for charging freight on through
distance basis, additional free time given on account of extra shunting for placement, removal
etc. should be 2 hours (two hours). However, in cases where the additional free time had been
fixed less than 2 hours as per earlier Time & Motions Studies, the same should continue.
(b) In the case of private/assisted sidings which are notified for charging freight on through
distance basis, no additional free time will be granted. However, wherever provision of
additional free time is considered warranted by the Zonal Railway, additional free time upto a
maximum of two hours may be granted with the recommendation of CCM and COM,
concurrence of FA&CAO and approval of GM on case to case basis.
(c) However, whenever additional free time is considered warranted and is granted to a
private/assisted sidings which has been notified for charging freight on through distance
basis, GM should review the desirability of continuing the through distance arrangement in
such sidings.
2.2.2 Reckoning of free time in case of railway terminals viz.goods shed/railway siding/public
siding and such private/assisted sidings where placement/release of rake is done through
railway’s locomotive
Free time will be reckoned from the time of placement of the rake. Demurrage will be
charged on excess detention which will be calculated as under:
‘Excess detention = (time of release – time of placement) - free time’
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The free time will start with the placement of 1st part of the rake. However, intervening
periods between the time of completion of loading/unloading of the 1st part and time of
placement of 2nd part of the same rake for loading/unloading, between the time of
completion of loading/unloading of the 2nd part and time of placement of 3rd part of the same
rake for loading/unloading and so on, should be treated as dies-non. Demurrage will be
charged on excess detention which will be calculated as under:
‘Excess detention = (time of release of the last part – time of placement of first part) –
free time – total period of dies non’
Free time for the entire rake will commence from the time of placement of first part of the
rake. Demurrage charges will be calculated on the basis of deemed released time of the rake
(after adjustment of dies non period). A rake will be deemed to have been released at the time
at which the last wagon is released irrespective of the group/spur in which this wagon was
placed. If the time interval between first placement and subsequent placements (i.e. between
1st placement & 2nd placement, between 1st placement & 3rd placement, and so on) is more
than two hours, then such excess time interval of over two hours shall be treated as dies non.
This dies non period, wherever applicable, will be deducted from the actual release time of
the respective placements to arrive at deemed release time.
“Excess detention = (deemed release time of the rake – time of 1st placement) – free
time”
“Deemed release time of a placement = actual release time of that placement – dies non,
if applicable”
Deemed released time of the rake will be the time at which the last wagon of the rake is
deemed to have been released. For example, if the deemed released time of first placement is
1200 Hours, second placement is 1400 Hours and third placement is 1300 Hours, then 1400
Hours will be the deemed release time of that rake.
Bunching allowance will be allowed for both loading as well as unloading stream of traffic
(commodity wise). It will be granted to such rakes which have arrived in bunched manner in
excess of the handling capacity of the siding. It will be permitted for calendar day only and will
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not have cumulative effect i.e. not extendable beyond odd hours. The allowance should be
calculated on actual arrival basis.
Existing siding: Handling capacity of an existing siding will be the actual handling capacity
or deemed handling capacity, whichever is higher. Deemed handling capacity will be the
average consumption of rakes per day during 1st January to 30th April escalated by 1.5 times
& rounded off to the nearest integer. In exceptional cases, GM may approve fixing of the
deemed handling capacity of a siding by rounding off the average consumption of rakes per
day to the nearest integer (subjected to minimum of one rake). This should be done on case
to case basis with the recommendation of CCM and COM.
New siding: Handling capacity will be fixed provisionally keeping in view the handling
system, production capacity, linkage, deemed handling capacity of similar type of siding etc.
Handling capacity of a siding thus fixed should be reviewed every year in the Month of May
& will be notified for the next year starting from July to June, or at the time of change in
infrastructure including handling system, consumption pattern or linkage of the siding,
whichever is earlier.
Demurrage on a rake will be charged after allowing the permissible free time for
loading/unloading of wagons and bunching allowance, wherever applicable. Grant of free time
and levy of demurrage on a rake will be linked with the handling capacity of the siding.
The ‘excess’ detention(for the purpose of levying Demurrage Charge) would be reckoned
after the expiry of total of the free time permitted separately for two activities, i.e. first
unloading and then loading; total time taken for unloading and loading shall commence
from the time of placement of the rake for unloading and conclude at the time the loaded
rake is handed back to the railway at the designated point. However, if commodity
unloaded from a rake and commodity backloaded in the same rake are having different
Demurrage rates, then excess detention for two activities shall be reckoned separately i.e.
first for unloading and then for loading.
Additional free time that may presently be extended in such situation, on account of
shunting of the rake from the unloading point to the loading point within the siding would
no longer be permissible; the time presently allowed for movement of the rake from the
interchange point to the siding and vice versa, if any, would continue to be reckoned for
calculation of admissible free time for loading/unloading.
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Seven old steel plants namely Bhillai Steel Plant, Bokaro Steel Plant, Durgapur Steel Plant,
Indian Iron & Steel Co., Rourkela Steel Plant, Tata Iron & Steel Co. and Visakhapatnam Steel
Plant will be permitted free time as prescribed below:
Type of Name of the Steel Plant Number of wagons Permissible free time
wagon (in hours : minutes)
Loading Unloading
Open Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Upto 35 16:00 08:00
wagons 36 & above 18:00 10:00
Indian Iron & Steel Co. Upto 35 24:00 16:00
36 & above 26:00 18:00
All others Upto 35 22:00 12:00
36 & above 24:00 14:00
Flat wagons All Upto 35 24:00 12:00
36 & above 26:00 14:00
Hopper All Upto 45 N.A. 4:30
wagons 46 & above N.A. 5:30
Covered All Irrespective of the 24:00 24:00
wagons number
Tank All Irrespective of the 24:00 24:00
wagons number
ALLOWANCES
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across different types of wagons. For the purpose of adjustment of credit/debit hours, only
the permissible free time will be taken into consideration, and not other allowances.
Offsetting of debit hours incurred on any wagon detained inside a Steel Plant beyond 10(ten)
days, from the date of its being made over to the Plant, is not permitted.
Permissible free time for loading/unloading of wagons and allowances in case of steel plants
(other than seven old steel plants) which do not work on ‘Engine-on-load(EOL)’ will be as
under:
Type of wagon Number of Permissible free time (in hours:minutes)
wagons Loading Unloading
Open wagons Irrespective 12:00 8:00
Flat wagons of number 12:00 8:00
Hopper wagons of wagons N.A 2:30
BCNHL wagons 11:00 11:00
Covered wagons other than 10:00 10:00
BCNHL
Tank wagons 9:00 9:00
The above-mentioned free time will be applicable for all booking points/sidings as long
as they are located within the same steel plant.
ALLOWANCES
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Bagged 6:00
Consignment
(Corrigendum No.12
dated 25.09.2020 to
RMC/Demurrage-
Wharfage-
Waiver/2016/0)
Other consignment 3:00
Hopper Rake (BOBR etc.) 3:00 2:00
Covered Rake (BCN etc.) 6:00 6:00
Tank Rake (BTPN etc.) 5:00 5:00
Flat rake (BRN, BFK, BFN, 6:00 6:00
CONCORD etc.).
Free time will be reckoned from the time of placement of rake. If at any terminal, additional
shunting time etc. is permissible at present (for example, from exchange yard to siding and back)
the same would continue.
Whenever a customer is able to handle wagons in less than the permissible free time, resulting in
earning of credit hours, the credit hours so earned will be adjusted to the extent of 100% against
the debit hours, as per following terms and conditions-
a. The adjustment will be done on monthly basis across same type of stock and type of
operation; i.e. loading or unloading
b. Demurrage charge will be levied on the basis of net debit hours
c. No refund will be admissible for credit hours.
d. Extant guidelines regarding wavier of demurrage will continue to be applicable as per
schedule of power vested with competent authority.
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In case of EOL sidings, the instant instruction for non levy of Engine Hire Charges within the
stipulated free time will apply. This implies that debit and credit hours accountal will not be for
the purpose of Engine Hire Charges.
These guidelines will be implemented on pilot basis and will remain vailid for a period of one
year from 01.10.2020.
Clarifications –
Debit/Credit system will be applicable to customers giving 01 MT per annum. The per
annum period may be reckoned as "FY2019-20 or preceding 12 months", on either basis,
in which 01 MT target is achieved.
As per extant guidelines – “the adjustment will be done on monthly basis across same type of
stock and type of operation i.e. loading or unloading”. The basic idea is netting on monthly basis.
2.7 Additional Free Time for covering Open Wagons with Tarpaulins
Additional free time of one hour per rake may be permitted for covering open wagons
with tarpaulins during loading of loose/bulk commodity (e.g. Coal & Coke etc., for which
packing condition P2(a) is prescribed in the Goods Tariff) at all kinds of freight terminals
e.g. goods sheds, sidings (including EOL sidings), PFTs etc.
3.1 Demurrage charge shall be levied @Rs.150/- per 8-wheeled wagon per hour, or part of an hour,
for detention of wagon in excess of the permissible free time for loading or unloading.
3.2 The rates of demurrage charges prescribed above shall be applicable equally to all types of 8-
wheeled goods wagons and coaching vehicles (other than passenger vehicles), irrespective of
their carrying capacities.
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3.3 The rates of demurrage charge in respect of 4-wheeled wagons/vehicles shall be half of the rates
prescribed for the 8-wheeled wagons/vehicles.
3.4.1 In case excessive congestion takes place at any terminal/steel plant, CCM/COM/DRM can
increase the demurrage rates, even at progressively increasing rate subject to a maximum of six
times of the prevalent rate. This penal demurrage rates should be implemented only after giving
wide publicity and due notice of 48 hours and should be applicable for the notified period.
3.4.2 The rates can be increased by say, 2 times or 3 times or so on, and not necessarily six times at
one go in all cases. In fact, Railway may decide to levy variable rates like 2 times for first three
hours detention, 3 times for next twelve hours detentions and so on and so forth. Railway must
judiciously evaluate the situation and the rates should be increased on merit to the extent
considered justified. Levy of six times rate should be resorted only when the situation becomes
very alarming.
4.0 UNIFORM WORKING HOURS AND BUSINESS HOURS FOR RAILWAY GOODS
SHED/SIDING - INCENTIVE FOR EXTENDED WORKING HOURS AND IMMEDIATE
REMOVAL OF GOODS
4.1 The working hours and business hours of all railway terminals is 06.00 to 22.00 Hours. DRM
may introduce the ‘round-the-clock working’ on case to case basis after analyzing traffic handled
at railway terminal and possible improvement in wagon-turn-round. The business hours in such
case should also be extended suitably to cater to ‘round-the-clock’ working. DRMs may analyze
and introduce ‘round the clock working’ at Goods Sheds (including those notified as CRTs)
having suitable traffic potential.
4.2 Railway should make all out efforts to get the rakes released expeditiously. For this purpose, the
working hours of the railway terminals may be extended beyond 22.00 hours even by a few
hours on a regular basis or even on day to day basis.
4.3 As an introductory incentive for the consigners/consignees to release the rakes during the
extended night hours beyond 22.00 hours, only 50% of the time taken between 2200 hours to
06.00 hours or the time upto which the working hours have been extended should be reckoned
for calculation of free time for loading, unloading or removal of consignments from the Railway
premises. This incentive is admissible for calculation of both Demurrage and Wharfage on the
same rake concurrently.
4.4 The incentive is also be applicable in the case when a rake is placed during 22.00 -06.00hours.
However, in case when rake is placed during 06.00 to 22.00 of a day, the incentive is permissible
only when normal free time prescribed for loading/unloading or removal of consignment from
Railway premises expires after 22.00 hours and if normal free time expires at or before 22.00
hours, the incentive shall not be permissible. The incentive shall be permitted only for the first
night of loading/unloading or removal of consignment from Railway premises, and not for the
detention of wagons during subsequent nights.
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4.5 The incentive will not be permitted to private/assisted sidings and to the customers who opt
TIELS at goods sheds.
4.6 Inordinate detention to wagons placed for unloading is sometimes caused in the goods sheds due
to goods unloaded from an earlier rake lying on the ground, blocking the space for further
unloading. In order to expedite removal of the goods unloaded from a rake, it has also been
decided that a grace period of two hours beyond the prescribed permissible free time for
unloading for different types of rakes would be permitted in the goods sheds for immediate
removal of the entire goods unloaded from the rake within the extended grace period of two
hours. However, if a consignee does not clear the entire goods unloaded from the rake within the
extended grace period of two hours Demurrage will be leviable as per the prescribed permissible
free time and no grace period in free time will be granted.
4.7 Suitable infrastructure should be created by railway administration. Proper arrangement should
be made for security of goods and railways cash etc. Special emphasis should be laid on
arranging sufficient lighting at railway terminals for ensuring safe and quick loading/unloading
of wagons. Attention to approach road and other required facilities should also be put in place.
DRMs may ensure basic facilities like drinking water, toilet, resting, wharf, sufficient lighting,
approach road and other required facilities in Goods Sheds while introducing round the clock
working. Goods sheds giving higher volume of traffic and revenue may be taken up on priority
basis so as to optimize expenditure.
5.2 Free time for loading/unloading as permissible to the entire rake should be allowed.
5.3 If detention of the rake is caused beyond the permissible free time, then, demurrage charges
should be leviable on the entire rake, even if some of the wagons are released within the free
time, actually drawn out & dispatched or used for back-loading or which could be removed in
one shunt without disturbing the wagons which were under operation of loading/unloading.
5.4 The consignor(s)/consignee(s) who have detained their respective groups of wagons beyond the
permissible free time should be made accountable for the detention and demurrage charges
should be collected from him/them for the detention of the groups of wagons allowed to
him/them.
5.5 Demurrage on the entire rake should be collected from the last party (who is responsible for the
detention of the rake) after deducting Demurrage, if any, collected from other
consignor(s)/consignee(s)/endorsee(s).
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6.1 Stabling charge is levied for detention of privately owned stock at a railway premise in any of the
following circumstance:
when party is unable to receive such stock in their siding
when party declines to accept such stock in their siding
6.2 Privately owned wagons includes wagons procured under “Own Your Wagon scheme(Category-
C)”, Defense owned stock, wagons owned by container operators*,etc.
6.3 The rate of Stabling Charge in case of privately owned wagons (except wagons owned by
container operators) will be Rs.525/- per wagon per day or part of a day, from the time of arrival
to the time of removal. In case of wagons owned by container operators, the rate of Stabling
Charge will be Rs.525/- per wagon per day or part of a day.
6.4 The rate of Stabling Charge will be uniform for all types of wagons (either BG/MG or 4-
wheeler/6 wheeler/8 wheeled/12 wheeler etc.).
6.5 When privately owned stock is detained in the private siding or in a railway siding meant for
handling such stock, no Stabling/Demurrage charge will be levied.
[*In case of Concessionaire’s train, the procedure for calculating Stabling Charge will continue
to be governed by T.T. Dte.’s letter No.2008/TT-III/73/20 dt.29.09.2008(and as amended from
time to time)].
7.1 Wagons procured under “Own Your Wagon scheme (Category- A & B)” or under “Wagon
Investment Scheme(WIS)”:
In the case of wagons procured under “Own Your Wagon Scheme (Category-A & B)” or under
“Wagon Investment Scheme(WIS)”, extant free time &Demurrage Rule as applicable for
detention of railway owned stock by normal rail users (i.e. other than steel plants) will be
applicable.
8.0 MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 Demurrage rule is applicable in case of dummy wagons attached to ODC rakes.
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8.2 Demurrage rule is also applicable in the case of General Service Wagon leased out to various
Departments for their use. However, it is not applicable in case of General Service Wagons
which are declared condemned and subsequently excluded from general pool and are sometime
handed over to Engineering Department, who after making some addition/alteration and minor
repair, use them for transporting sleeper etc.
8.3 Demurrage rule is not applicable in the case of BOB wagons which have been introduced mainly
for transporting ballast for Engineering Department and are not public wagons.
8.4 Sundays are reckoned (i.e. Sundays are not treated as dies non) for the purpose of levy of
Demurrage at all freight terminals including stations/goods sheds which are notified as ‘Notified
Stations’ in terms of Section 89 of the Railways Act, 1989.
______
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CHAPTER-II
1.1 Wharfage Charge is leviable on goods/consignment not removed from railway premises after the
expiry of free time. It is leviable for detention of goods at railway’s premise like railway station,
platform, goods shed, godown, railway siding or any other type of railway’s wharf. However, it
is not leviable for detention of goods in railway’s wagon or at private siding.
1.2 Wharfage is not leviable on the consignment held by Railway administration on lien in terms of
Section 83 of Railways Act 1989.
2.1 Railway Premises (Goods Sheds, Stations etc.) will be classified into three groups as prescribed
below on the basis of average number of rakes dealt with during the period from 1 st January to
30th April.
Group I More than 12 rakes per month
Group II 7 rakes to 12 rakes per month
Group III less than 7 rakes per month
2.2 Classification should be reviewed every year in the month of May on the basis of ‘average
number of rakes dealt with per month during 1st January to 30th April’ or ‘the average number of
rakes dealt with per month during 1st May(of previous year) to 30th April’ whichever is higher.
The same should be notified for the period July to June.
2.3 There may be cases where traffic pattern changes and railway administration feels that there is
need for midterm revision in the classification of a goods shed/station. For upgrading the
category of a Railway premise (i.e. from Group-II to Group-I or from Group-III to Group-II),
CCM/COM may take a decision based on the recommendation of Sr.DCM/Sr.DOM of the
concerned Division. However, for downgrading the category of a Railway premise (i.e. from
Group I to Group II or from Group II to Group III), Zonal Railway will send such proposals to
Board.
3.0 PERMISSIBLE FREE TIME FOR REMOVAL OF GOODS FROM RAILWAY PREMISES
3.1 Free time for removal of goods from railway premises will be as under:
(a) Goods stacked in goods sheds etc. waiting to be loaded in wagons/rake
Group I 12 working hours from the expiry of free time for loading of wagons/rake
Group II 15 working hours from the expiry of free time for loading of wagons/rake
Group III 30 working hours from the expiry of free time for loading of wagons/rake
(b) Goods unloaded from wagons/rake waiting to be removed from goods shed etc.
Group I 12 working hours from the expiry of free time for unloading of wagons/rake
Group II 15 working hours from the expiry of free time for unloading of wagons/rake
Group III 30 working hours from the expiry of free time for unloading of wagons/rake
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3.2 Free time for removal of consignment from railway’s premise will be reckoned after the expiry
of the permitted free time for unloading of the rake, irrespective of the fact whether the
unloading of rake is done in single placement or multiple placements.
3.3 In case free time for removal expires even before the beginning of unloading of the consignment
from a rake, Wharfage will be levied for the period from the commencement unloading of
consignment on Railway premises till its removal.
3.4 In case free time for loading/unloading of a rake and free time for removal of consignment had
expired, loading/unloading of wagons is going on and the consignment has not been removed
within the free time for removal, both Demurrage (for detention of rake beyond free time for
loading/unloading) and Wharfage (for detention of consignment on railway premise beyond free
time for removal) will be levied.
3.5 National Holidays, namely 26th January, 15th August and 2nd October will not be reckoned while
calculating free time for removal of goods from railway premises and for charging Wharfage
except in the case of live stock, perishable goods and goods loaded/unloaded at such
stations/goods sheds which are notified as ‘Notified Station’ for removal of goods without delay.
3.6 Sundays are reckoned (i.e. Sundays are not treated as dies non) for the purpose of levy of
Wharfage at all railway premises including goods sheds/stations which are notified as ‘Notified
Stations’ in terms of Section 89 of the Railways Act, 1989.
Wharfage Charge will be levied on per wagon per hour basis uniformly for all types of wagons,
whether 4 wheeler or 8 wheeler or any other type.
Group I Rs.150/- per wagon per hour or part thereof
Group II Rs.120/- per wagon per hour or part thereof
Group III Rs.75/- per wagon per hour or part thereof
5.1 Free time for removal of livestock (booked under Goods Tariff) from Railway premises will be
as under:
(a) Livestock waiting to be loaded in wagons/rake
3 hours from the expiry of free time for loading of wagons/rake
(b) Livestock unloaded from wagons/rake waiting to be removed from goods shed etc.
3 hours from the expiry of free time for unloading of wagons/rake
5.2 Rate of Wharfage Charge in the case of livestock (booked under goods tariff) will be Re.5/- per
head per hour or part thereof. However, rail customers should remove their livestock from
railway premises within 12 hours of their unloading at destination station. In case rail customer
fails to do so Railway administration may dispose them off in the manner provided in Clause(a)
of Sub-section (2) of Section 83 of Railways Act 1989.
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6.2 The rates can be increased by say, 2 times or 3 times or so on, and not necessarily six times at
one go in all cases. In fact, Railway may decide to levy variable rates like 2 times for first three
hours detention, 3 times for next twelve hours detentions and so on and so forth. Railway must
judiciously evaluate the situation and the rates should be increased on merit to the extent
considered justified. Levy of six times rate should be resorted only when the situation becomes
very alarming.
7.1 Advance stacking of goods at railway premises may be permitted by Zonal Railways without
levy of any charge for this purpose.
7.2 DRMs will notify detailed instructions for advance stacking of goods at stations on their
divisions in accordance with the guidelines prescribed herein. Such instructions should inter alia
include names of stations/goods sheds where advance stacking will be permitted, number of days
for which stacking can be permitted, type of commodities which can be stacked/restricted etc.
7.3 Permission for advance stacking will be granted to such rail users only, who have indented for
the wagons.
7.4 Rail users desirous of availing the facility of advance stacking, will apply for advance stacking
duly furnishing the details of indent and an undertaking that the stacking will be done at their
own risk and responsibility. No claims for loss, damage, pilferage etc. arising out of stacking will
be admissible.
7.5 Advance stacking will be permitted up to such maximum period as specified in the detailed
instructions issued by the Division in terms of Para 7.2 above. Divisions may specify different
stacking periods for different stations depending upon the number of rakes handled, but in no
case the stacking period will exceed five days.
7.6 Sr. DCMs, in consultation with Sr. DOMs, will be authorized to grant permission for advance
stacking up to a maximum period of five days. Permission for advance stacking may be granted
keeping in view the traffic pattern, number of rakes handled, availability of space etc. at the
station/goods shed concerned. Advance stacking should not lead to hold up of other inward and
outward traffic.
However, in exceptional cases where additional traffic and additional earning will accrue,
permission may be granted for advance stacking for more than 5 days on case to case basis.
Permission for advance stacking for period upto 10 days must be granted with the approval of
DRM on recommendation of Sr.DCM & Sr.DOM, and for the period beyond 10 days with the
approval of GM on recommendation of CCM & COM.
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7.7 Wagons will be supplied against the registered indent only after expiry of the permitted time for
advance stacking or completion of stacking, whichever is earlier. After supply of wagons and
expiry of free time for loading, Wharfage charge will be levied on goods/consignment which has
not been removed from railway premises after the expiry of permitted free time.
7.8 Once advance stacking permission has been granted, cancellation of indents will not be
permissible upto fifteen days from the 1st day of advance stacking. In case Rail User cancels the
indent within the aforesaid period, Stacking Charge will be levied for the whole period of
stacking.
7.9 However, if a Rail User cancels his indent after fifteen days from the 1st day of advance stacking
and the wagons have not been supplied till such time, no stacking charge will be levied. In such a
case, consignment should be removed within 24 hours of the cancellation of indent, else it will
attract levy of Wharfage charge for period beyond 24 hours of the cancellation of indent.
7.10 Records of particulars (e.g. date, time etc.) should be maintained in all cases where advance
stacking has been permitted.
7.11 No Stacking Charge will be levied till the supply of wagons, even if supply of wagons is not
done immediately after completion of stacking or lapse of advance stacking period.
7.12 Stacking Charge will be levied at the prevailing rates of Wharfage Charge.
_____
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Compendium_ Demurrage-Wharfage-Waiver
CHAPTER-III
1.1 The powers of waiver of Wharfage indicated in the table above will be on consignment basis
except in the case of trainload consignment where it will be applicable on per wagon basis. In the
case of trainload consignment, the application for waiver of Wharfage for a particular rake will be
considered by the authority who is competent to deal with the highest amount of Wharfage
accrued per wagon of that rake.
1.2 Where Demurrage cases are being handled by Officers of Operating Department, CCM/Sr.DCM
etc. will mean COM/Sr.DOM etc.
1.3 The cases for waiver should not be dealt by an officer below the level of an officer competent to
deal with the case as per the schedule of powers given in the above table. Say, CCM will not deal
with such case where GM is the competent authority. Since waiver of Demurrage/Wharfage is
discretionary power, CCM cannot recommend percentage of waiver, instead, he will only put up
facts of the case and give his remarks on the customer’s application/appeal.
1.4 Prior Finance concurrence will be required for waiver of Demurrage/Wharfage charges above
Rs.25,000/- per wagon/per consignment respectively. Cases submitted to General Manager
should be routed through the Coordinating HOD of the Commercial Department and FA&CAO
of the Zonal Railways, irrespective of the amount involved.
2.0 Waiver
2.1 Due care should be taken in preparation of the Demurrage/Wharfage bills at the first instance to
obviate recasting of bills subsequently on representation by the customer or otherwise.
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2.2 In case the consignor/consignee feels that Demurrage/Wharfage was due to reasons beyond his
control he could apply for waiver giving all relevant details with documentary evidence wherever
necessary.
2.3 First application for waiver of Demurrage or Wharfage should be submitted to the Station
Manager/Goods Supervisor within 10(ten) days from the date upto which these charges had
accrued.
2.4 In case of Wharfage, the consignor/consignee should first remove the consignment from the
railway premises, deposit the amount of Wharfage charges and submit the original proof of such
payment along with his application while preferring for waiver at the first instance itself.
However, in case of regular rail users, instead of prepayment of Wharfage, FDR of appropriate
value may be collected either on a case to case basis or in lumpsum (to be decided by DRMs in
consultation with Sr.DFMs) depending on the value of Wharfage that accrues on the consignment
of such users. In exceptional circumstances involving force majeure conditions, GMs may
condone the provision for prepayment/collection of FDR. This power of GM will not be further
delegated.
2.5 The concerned Station Manager/Chief Goods Supervisor will forward the application of waiver of
Demurrage or Wharfage to the Divisional Officer together with the factual position and remarks
within 3(three) days of the receipt of the application.
2.6 In case of large sidings, like those of power houses, steel plants etc., the time limit for preferring
the first application for waiver of Demurrage Charge will be the next month implying that
application for waiver of Demurrage Charges accrued in one month should be submitted latest
within the next month.
2.7 The delay beyond 10 days/next month period as mentioned above can be condoned only with the
personal approval of the Divisional Railway Manager/Chief Commercial Manager (coordinating
HOD) depending upon whether the powers to deal with the case lies at Divisional or Zonal level
and after having ascertained that the reasons for the delay given in the application are satisfactory.
Application for condonation of delay in preferring an application for waiver of Demurrage,
however, shall be entertained only after the Demurrage Charges have been paid in full and the
application is supported with proof of such payment. An application for condonation of delay
once regretted either by DRM or by CCM(coordinating HOD) will not be reconsidered at any
level.
2.8 The circumstances, which lead to accrual of Demurrage/Wharfage charges, can be broadly
grouped in three categories as under:
2.9 In case of Category (i), waiver should normally be not done. However, if at all waiver is to be
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granted on justified and meritorious facts, speaking orders should be recorded in all such cases.
As regards case pertaining to Category (ii) or Category (iii), waiver can be considered on merits
of individual case.
2.10 The powers for waiver as mentioned above should be exercised judiciously keeping in view the
merits of each case as per instructions contained in this letter. The waiver should not be granted
in a routine manner.
2.11 Whenever the waiver exceeds 50% of the powers conferred on an officer, reasons for such waiver
should be recorded in writing.
2.12 In the case of large sidings, like those of power-houses, where demurrage is not waived on wagon
to wagon or daily basis, speaking orders need not be recorded for each consignment/wagon. It
would be sufficient if broad reasons are given in support of such periodical waiver after analyzing
the broad causes of such detentions.
2.13 The causes for accrual of frequent demurrage/wharfage charges from a particular Goods Shed or
a siding or a consignor/consignee should be analyzed periodically. Remedial steps including
provision of infrastructural facilities should be taken to reduce the detention to rolling stock and
prompt removal of goods from the Railway premises.
3.1 A consignor/consignee can prefer an appeal to a higher authority in case he is not satisfied with
the decision of the lower authority. The Station Manager/Chief Goods Superintendent should
forward the appeal to the Divisional authorities within 3 (three) days of the receipt of the appeal.
3.2 However, before preferring an appeal for waiver of demurrage charges, he is required to deposit
the amount of demurrage charges not waived. The original proof of such should be submitted
alongwith the appeal.
3.3 An appeal against the order of lower authority should be preferred within 30(thirty) days of the
date when the decision of the lower authority is communicated.
3.4 A maximum of only two appeals can be made against the decision of the lower authorities.
3.5 In all cases where a change is made by the appellate authority against the decision taken earlier,
speaking orders should be recorded by the appellate authority.
4.0 The waiver of demurrage/wharfage charge should be dealt as per the instructions contained in this
letter.
5.0 Refund
5.1 No direct refund of Demurrage/Wharfage charge should be made unless proper procedure for
waiver as laid in this letter has been followed. While granting refund of Wharfage or Demurrage
Charges due cognizance should be taken of the quantum of waiver already allowed in each case.
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5.2 For any refund of Wharfage or Demurrage prior account verification as distinct from Finance
concurrence is required to be done to establish that the amount to be refunded has actually been
received by the Railway. Such refunds would be subject to post check by the Finance. No prior
Finance concurrence would be required in these cases.
5.3 Refund of waived amount of Demurrage/Wharfage Charge should be made expeditiously through
Pay Order/Cheque by Commercial Department of the Division.
6.0 If it is felt that the rules for accrual/waiver of Demurrage/Wharfage Charge need review, the same
should be recommended by the GM to this office with the observations of the Associate Finance.
Division Officers should be asked to enforce the extant rules regarding collection of Railway
dues from freight customers. All dues must be raised to customers at the earliest as per schedule
and all efforts must be made to prevent outstanding.
“Para 1820: Recovery of railway dues before delivery of goods- Before delivery of goods, it
should be seen that all railway dues and other charges have been paid. Wharfage and
demurrage charges should be levied under tariff rules and recovered, from the
consignee/endorsee before the removal of goods from railway premises.”
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