Rates Circular No. 10 of 2005

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA/BHARAT SARKAR
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS/RAIL MANTRALAYA
(RAILWAY BOARD)

The General Managers,                               The Managing Director

All Indian Railways.                                      Container Corporation of India Ltd.

Sub:  Provisional clearance for transportation of international containers containing dangerous/hazardous/offensive commodities by rail as per IMDG Code till inclusion in the Red Tariff.

         References have been received from CONCOR and other rail users regarding procedure for carriage of dangerous/ hazardous/offensive goods etc.which are not yet covered under Red Tariff but have been imported in international containers under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG Code).

       The matter has since been examined in consultation with the Chief Controller of Explosives, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, (Department of Explosives) Nagpur. It has been decided to accord "provisional" clearance to the transportation of international containers containing such dangerous/hazardous/ offensive commodities, which have not yet been included in the Red Tariff, subject to the following terms and conditions.

(i)         The dangerous/hazardous/offensive commodities should have been imported in international containers following all the norms prescribed in the IMDG code.

(ii)         The IMDG conditions for packing, quantity etc. should not be altered or interfered with and the same international container with seal and packing intact should be transported by rail.

(iii)        A copy of the relevant provisions of the IMDG Code should be made available to the goods sheds/container depots/sidings of the concerned zonal railways which are entrusted with the handling of containers carrying such dangerous/hazardous/offensive goods.

(iv)       Isolated safe and secured place, observing necessary "Clear Safety Zone" should be provided in the container depots for temporary storage of containers till be clearance/disposal of such dangerous/ hazardous/ offensive commodities.

(v)        CONCOR should simultaneously send a self-contained proposal to the Ministry of Railways, together with the relevant provisions of the IMDG Code, for inclusion of such commodities in the Red Tariff.

(vi)       The Ministry of Railways shall take immediate necessary action for inclusion of these commodities in the Red Tariff after getting the clearance of the Chief Controller of Explosives and obtaining the approval of the Competent Authority. 

These instructions will be effective from 15.3.2005  This issues with the approval of the Safety and Traffic Transportation Directorates of the Railway Board. Please issue instructions to all concerned and acknowledge receipt of this letter.

(Navin Kumar Parsuramka)  
Joint Director Traffic Commercial (Rates)  
Railway Board