“Forward ever, backward never: onwards with Breaking Through”
Free transportation of relief material to the flood affected areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra States: Railway Board Order

भारत सरकार GOVERNMENT OF INDIA) :
रेल मंत्रालय ( MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS)
रेलवे बोर्ड  (RAILWAY BOARD)
No. TCR/1147/2019/01 
New Delhi, Dated: 10.08.2019

The General Managers,
All Indian Railways.

Sub: Guidelines regarding transportation of relief material to the flood affected areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra States.

Indian Railway has decided to permit inter-state and intra-state free transport for aid and relief material by Goods trains/ Parcel Van, including in less than standard composition rakes, to Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra States in wake of recent Flood. It may be noted that no freight is to be charged for transportation of relief material to Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra States i.e. to all stations, as of now.
All Government Organizations across the Country can book relief material for free of cost to Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra States. Other organizations, as deemed fit by Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs), may also avail of this provision. However, it may be ensured that consignor/consignee is District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner in whose jurisdiction the dispatching/receiving station is situated.
All  concerned may be advised that at the time of preparing Forwarding Note in TMS application, the Rate Type column shall be chosen as F-FREE TRAFFIC with a remark in as relief material for Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra States. All such movement must be done with DRM’s approval. In addition, all Zonal Railways must ensure detailed account of movement of relief material, along with manually calculated freight charges for future use, if any.
Since the transportation of relief material shall be undertaken free of charge, therefore, no ancillary charges like demurrage/wharfage or others charges are to be levied on the same.
Notwithstanding anything above, Central Government/ Indian Railways shall reserve the right to take appropriate decisions as per extant policy on the subject of transportation of relief material.
These guidelines shall remain effective till 31.08.2019 or till further orders, whichever is earlier.
This issues with the approval of Finance Directorate of Ministry of Railways.
(Mahender Singh)
Dy. Director, Traffic Commercial (Rates)
Railway Board.