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Facilitation of International Trade

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Facilitation of International Trade Facilitation of International Trade Manoj Kumar Srivastava Executive Director Ministry of Railways India TAR Routes • UN ESCAP study identified three broader routes: • Northern corridor: passing through China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russian federation and Korean peninsula; • TAR on Indo- China: starting from Chinese border to Laos, Thailand, Malaysia; • Southern corridor: connecting Turkey through Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and with Sri Lanka also part of the corridor, South Asia -An Overview Why Railways.. • Contiguous Land connectivity : Comparison of Environmental and Social Sustainability of Rail & Road Transport Nearly entire trade potential can As compared to road, rail consumes 75 percent to 90 Energy less energy for freight traffic and 5 percent to 21 less convert to surface transport Consumption energy for passenger traffic including Ocean Trade from Unit cost of rail transport was lower than road transport Financial Costs by about Rs 2 per NTKM and Rs. 1.6 per PKM ( in the Chinese ports and South East base year 2000) Asia to Central Asia and Europe Rail transport emits 17 gram CO2 equivalent per PKM as compared to 84 gram per PKM in case of road transport • Huge environmental and Environmental Damage Rail transport emits 28 gram CO2 equivalent per NTKM economic benefits - South Asia, as compared to 64 gram per NTKM in case of road South-East Asia, South West transport. Accident costs on road are significantly higher than those Asia have existing Rail on rail For passenger transport, road accident costs are 45 Accident Costs • India will remain the pivot for times higher than rail For freight transport, road accident costs are 8 times that South East and South West of rail. Asian Region Connectivity In terms of all inclusive costs or social costs, railways have a huge advantage over road transport(the advantage is more in case of reight traffic) Social Cost For urban areas, the advantage of rail ( in the base year (All- Inclusive 2000) was as much as Rs 2.8 per NTKM and Rs. 1.7 per Costs) PKM For non urban areas, the cost advantage of rail(in the base year 2000) was as much as Rs 2.5 per NTKM and Rs. 1.7 per PKM. South Asia -An Overview • In South Asian Region, inadequate infrastructure services increases costs of logistics and hampering trade promotion & regional integration • Missing links and lack of uniform technical standards are main challenges in providing connectivity of Trans Asian Railway (TAR) . • TAR – a major UN-ESCAP initiative to strengthen rail connectivity between Asia and Europe. Southern corridor extends through South Asian Region. • For integration with South West Asia the main constraint is inter-operability of gauge and with South East Asia, mainly the missing links. Existing Cross Border Railway links of India • With Pakistan via Atari-Wagha and via Munabao-Khokharapar • With Nepal via Raxaul-Birganj • With Bangladesh via Gede-Darsana, Singhabad- Rohanpur, Benapole-Petrapole and Radhikapur- Birol Connectivity with neighbouring countries Atari Tamu GedeMahisasan TAR main link TAR other routes Missing Links Break of Gauge Attari To Delhi Muna bao Indo-Pak Rail Traffic • Rail traffic between India and Pakistan is regulated by a Bilateral Agreement between the two countries. This Agreement was initially entered into by India and Pakistan in 1976. It was extended periodically and reviewed in 1991. It was again reviewed in January 2001 and came into force on January 22, 2001. • The Agreement is being extended every three years by mutual consent. • In addition to this Agreement, the two railways have also adopted an agreement on “Rules of Interchange between India and Pakistan” by mutual consent. Indo-Pak Rail Traffic Passenger Traffic • Samjhauta Express was introduced in 1976 between Amritsar and Lahore after the execution of the Bilateral Agreement between the two countries. • Initially, this train provided a daily service between Amritsar and Lahore. Services of this train were suspended for a short time during Dec 1992. Later, the services were resumed but the frequency was reduced to only twice a week. • Samjhauta Express runs on Mondays and Thursdays from both Attari and Lahore. Pakistan Railway and Indian Railways’ rake work alternately for 6 month each. • Apart from this, Thar Express runs between India and Pakistan from Munabao (Rajasthan, India) to Zero Point Station near Khokhrapar(Pakistan) every Saturday. Thar Express runs 6 months with Indian rake and Pakistan rake alternately. At present, this link is open for passenger traffic only. Indo-Pak Rail Traffic Other Passenger Services • Indian and Pakistan Railways also make special arrangements for pilgrims visiting from the country by providing extra coaches to the regular service of Samjhauta Express and by running special trains, if required. Indo-Pak Rail Traffic Parcel Traffic • 10 BCN wagons are attached on each trip of the Samjhauta Express at Attari and taken upto Lahore, which are used to carry parcel traffic. Similar is the case in reverse direction. • Outward commodities transported are Vegetable seeds, Machinery part, Tyre, Tubes, Books, Dyes, Cardamom, Chemical, fabric, Tools, C/drugs, Loakh dana, Cosmetic items, Artificial Jewelry, Sewing Machines. • Inward commodities transported are Surgical instruments, Islamic books, finished leather. • Stock from Pakistan side: PAK covered wagons(4–wheelers), BCX(8-wheelers) • Stock from India side: BCN Indo-Pak Rail Traffic Goods Traffic • Goods traffic is running between Amritsar an Lahore as 67 UP (going to Lahore from Amritsar) and 68 Dn(coming from Lahore to Amritsar). Loading/unloading of consignment is done at Amritsar and Lahore. • There is a sizeable demand for movement of goods between the two countries. A number of commodities are being supplied and received between India and Pakistan through goods trains. • Inward Traffic: Cement, rock salt, chemical drugs and other chemicals, sugar, soda, tools, cotton, carbon etc. • Outward Traffic: De-oiled cake, red chilly, chemicals, seed, rubber, tamarind, drugs, yarn, spices, isbgol etc. Indo-Pak Rail Traffic • During 2018-19 till Sep.’2018, an average cargo of 8088 tonnes per month made over to Pakistan. • Export traffic : Plastic Dana, Red Chilly, Soyabin & Crude Drugs. • Import traffic : Cement, Rock salt, Soda & Country made drugs. Indo-Pak Rail Traffic Other issues related to India-Pakistan Rail Traffic: • Zero balancing • Wagon census • Provision of Crew, Guard and Engine: • Provision of VISA • Interchange of Traffic and Security: India – Bangladesh Existing Rail Links and New links under implementation Haldibari -Chilhatti Radhikapur-Birol Singhabad- Rohanpur Agartala- Akhaura Gede - Darsana Benapole - Petrapol India-Bangla Rail Connectivity Indian Railhead Bangladesh Gauge Railhead Gede Darsana BG Petrapol Benapol BG Singhabad Rohanpur BG Radhikapur Birol BG Mahisasan Shahbazpur DG-Const Haldibari Chilahati BG-Const Agartala Akhaura DG- new Belonia Feni DG-survey Freight Operation India - Bangladesh • Fundamental and Subsidiary Rules for interchange of Railway Traffic and Working Agreements govern Train operations between India and Bangladesh • Broad Gauge links at four locations provide for interchange of traffic viz. 1. Gede-Darshana 2. Singhabad- Rohanpur , 3. Petrapole-Benapole and 4. Radhikapur-Birol • Rolling stock in good condition (covered wagons) shall be provided by IR and BR • Joint Train Examination in both directions will take place at a single point • Customs clearance will be arranged by IR and BR on their respective territory Passenger Train service India - Bangladesh • Working of trains governed by the Fundamental and subsidiary Rules and Running Power Agreement for interchange of Traffic • Both IR and BR contribute equally towards the rolling stock – Locomotives provided by IR and BR on their respective territory • Each Railway provide for primary maintenance of its rake. • The crews and guards of IR and BR will man the trains over their respective territory • Customs and Immigration clearance shall be arranged by IR and BR on their respective border stations India-Bangla Freight Traffic • During 2018-19 till Sep.’2018, an average cargo of 176598 tonnes per month made over to Bangladesh, with a high CAGR. • Average of 73-74 freight rakes used for this export traffic from India. • Export traffic from India: stone/ballast, de- oiled cake, fly ash, foodgrains, etc. • No freight traffic from Bangladesh to India, except occasional consignments for Nepal coming by sea to Bangla ports and onward by rail route to Nepal via India. India-Bangla Container Traffic • An agreement between CONCOR and Container Company of Bangladesh Ltd. (CCBL) for cooperation signed in April 2017 (in presence of both PMs) and all modalities including fixation of tariff completed (from Darsana to Banga bandhu West and from Darsana to Kamlapur ICP, Dhaka). • Containerisation will boost export traffic from Bangladesh by rail (especially RMG), and from India primarily white goods and CKDs of automobiles. Status of India–Bandladesh Rail connectivity Projects – Akhaura – Agartala Railway Link • Length: 15.064 km (Indian 5 km, Bangladesh -10 km) • Approximate cost of the project 151 million USD • Detailed Engineering Report prepared by IRCON has been accepted by the Bangladesh Railways and Indian Railways India Nepal links surveyed Indo-Nepal Rail Traffic • The Rail Services Agreement was executed on 21.5.2004 between Ministry of Railways, Government of India and Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Supplies (now Ministry of Commerce),
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