PREFATORY NOTE
This compendium of instructions is issued for guidance of officials dealing with the subject matter. It contains all administrative orders issued from Railway Board from time to time, which have relevance on date. All those circulars and letters issued on the subject prior to and on 30/06/98 and not contained in this compendium are deemed to be cancelled or superseded. The compilation in the compendium is to remain up-dated and for documentation purposes. However, rules and provisions of the original circular / letter issued from the Board constitute the final authority on the original circular / letter issued from the Board constitute the final authority on the subject and not this compendium. Therefore, this compendium should not be referred to as an authority except for identifying the valid circulars / letters issued by Board and to exclude all other letters / circulars issued prior to 30/6/98 and not contained in the compendium.
While all out efforts have been made to make the compendium exhaustive yet, corrections to this compendium may be required and shall be issued serially numbered. In the next edition, mention shall be made of the number of incorporated correction slips. Remaining correction slips continue to remain in vogue till the next edition and so on.
The compilation of this compendium brought out need of regularly updating relevant codes and manuals and also the need to exercise restraint in issuing policy directives which are already contained in a code or manual or require correction / deletion / addendum to a code or manual or a previous policy directive. The compendium throws light on all such areas and, apart from the fact that a lot of corrections have already been carried out, a follow up action plan has been drawn and is being pursued to achieve this goal of field staff referring to the relevant Codes and Manuals and their correction slips only and minimal reference to circulars / policy letters etc.
The compendium covers relevant codal provisions and policy directives on sidings matters viz., Construction, Agreement, Maintenance, Signal and OHE Works, Electrification, Good Shed / Siding facility by private investment.
Zonal Railway may supplement the instructions, however taking care that these do not contravene the provisions of the codes and general rules.
It is hoped that, as already advised, CEs shall take similar action regarding the compendiums of their circulars etc. issued by Engineering Branch and keep them updated.
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76/W1/SA/3 dt. 15.7.85 |
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Works executed by RITES / IRCON or approved private consultants |
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Calculation of maintenance charges |
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Survey & construction approved private consults - terms and conditions, charges for inspection of maintenance standard of sidings |
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Gauge conversion of Pvt. Sidings by Pvt. Parties. |
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Development of goods shed / sidings by Pvt. Investment |
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COMPENDIUM |
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SIDING MATTERS |
1. Relevant Codal Provisions :-
1.1 Code provisions of paras 1822 to 1842-E lay down the necessary rules for construction, working and maintenance of Private and Assisted sidings.
1.2 Code provisions of paras 1801 to 1807-E lay down the necessary rules for Defence-related Railway lines and sidings.
Necessary guidelines for constructions, working and maintenance of private sidings have been issued in terms of Board's letter No. 85/W1/SP/45 dt. 1.12.86 read with relevant portions of Board's other letters No. 97/TT-II/2/3/ dt. 22.4.98 and No. TC-1/95/214/17 Dt. 17.4.98 and also dt. 28.5.98 (Annexures-A, B, C & D respectively).
2.1.1 Agreements : (Private & Defence)
Before sanction is accorded to the construction of a siding by the competent authority, necessary Siding Agreement of Terms and Conditions embodying the provisions of paras 1824 to 1834-E requires to be executed in terms of para 1823-E.
A Standard form of Agreement of private sidings has been circulated vide Board's letter No. 78/W1/SA/3 Dt. 15.2.85.
A Standard Memorandum of Terms and Conditions of Defence Sidings has been circulated vide Board's letter No. 71/W1/WMT/8 dated 27.6.85.
2.1.2 Preliminary Survey Cost :-
Against the charges to be recovered in terms of para 1825-E towards the preliminary expenses of the cost of survey and preparation of the necessary plans and estimates of a proposed siding, posts can be created as per Board's instructions vide letter No. 78/W1/SP/9 Dated 21.7.78 (Annex. E).
2.1.3 Works executed by Railways :-
When a siding work is undertaken by the Engineering Deptt. of a Railway for outside parties, Departmental charges @ 12½% are to be levied in terms of para 1829-E.
2.1.4 Works executed by other contractors such as RITES / IRCON or approved private consultants :-
When a portion of work concerning a private siding is allowed to be carried out by other contractors in terms of para 1137-E, the following charges are levied
(A) Departmental charges are levied at a reduced rate of 6¼% on the cost of work carried out by the party itself.
(B) General charges @ 6% on the value of the portion of the work to be executed by outside parties is levied as per Board's letter No. 80/EB/1/400/1 dated 24.10.80 (Annex. F).
(C) Survey & final Inspection Charges are levied as per Board's letter No. 83/W1/SP/12 (PA) dated 7.6.94 (Annex. G).
(a) 1% of the assessed cost at the stage of the proposal.
(b) Balance amount of complete 2% of estimated cost at the stage of conveying approval to surveys, plans and estimates.
2% of the cost of project while applying for final approval of completed work.
2.1.5 Permission to engage a private consultant :-
Vide Board's letter No. 83/W1/SP/12/(Pt) Dt. 29.12.95 (Annex. H), the necessity of Board's approval on case-by-case basis to engage a private consultant for siding works has been done away with and it is adequate if the siding-applicant intimates the CE and other concerned Departments of the Railway of the engagement of the approved consultant for the works.
2.1.6 Execution of S & T and OHE works :-
The execution of S & T and OHE works of a private siding can be entrusted to a private consultant vide Board's letter No. 83/W1/SP/12(Pt) dt. 1.3.96 (Annex. I).
In terms of para 1827 (B) of Engineering Code, the maintenance of private sidings beyond Railway limit is primarily the responsibility of siding owner. Vide Board's letter No. 96/CE-1/SP/7 dt. 1.3.96 (Annex. J), it has been decided that the maintenance of private siding by the Railway is better than the maintenance by private parties. As such, it has been decided to undertake the maintenance of private sidings by Railway Administration at the request of the party at their cost.
Maintenance charges of a private siding is fixed in terms of instructions issued vide Board's letter No. 58/W1/SA/13 dt. 23.4.82 (Annex. K).
When the sidings are maintained by the siding owners, frequent inspections are carried out and the charges are levied. In terms of Board's letter No. 83/W1/SP/12 dt. 22.3.93 (Annex. L), it has been decided that the rate to be levied for charges for inspections shall not be less than Rs. 2000/- per ETKM per annum and the minimum inspection charges for any siding shall be Rs. 5000/- per annum and the charges are revievable after 3 years and re-fixed basis on consumer Price Index.
2.3 Electrification of Sidings :-
Para 1826 (IV) - E deals with electrification of sidings. As per the latest instructions of Board's letter No. 87/W1/SP/28 dt. 14.9.94 (Annex. M), the sidings on the sections under electrification is to be wired at Railway's cost if found justified and on electrified sections, wiring of non-electrified siding will be done under Traffic Facilities under GM's powers.
2.4 Gauge Conversion of Sidings :-
The Policy of gauge conversion of the private siding is being done as per the instruction issued vide Board's letter No. 94/CE-1/SP/1 dt. 26.4.94 (Annex. N). Vide this letter. It was decided that gauge conversion of the private siding will be done on assisted siding terms.
Board have further reviewed these instructions as a marketing strategy and have given certain incentives for investment aiming at retaining and enhancing Railway's business interest. For the sidings those cover the criteria so fixed, the gauge conversion of that private siding will be done in terms of Board's letter No. 94/CE-1/SP/19 dt. 16.5.97 (Annex. O).
2.5 Development of Good Shed/Sidings by Private Parties Investment :-
Now, it has been decided to allow
investment by private parties for development of goods shed/sidings in terms of
Board's instructions issued vide letter No. 96/TT(I)/10/ACC.NR/36 dt. 23.10.97 (Annex. P).