In a move towards greater modernisation and computerisation of its freight operations, the Indian Railways has introduced electronic payment of freight charges. The railway ministry will now provide its corporate customers the facility of online payment of freight charges.
For the purpose, the customer will need to have an e-payment account with an authorised bank. The facility will be combined with the railways freight operations information system (FOIS), which gives real time location of freight trains. On booking goods for transport, a request for collection of freight by the FOIS server will be sent and processed by the authorised bank.
The customer will also have to sign an agreement with the ministry and the bank for the purpose. One of the first such customers to use this facility is ACC Cement, which has signed on with the State Bank of India.
The move is expected to make the freight payments process much simpler, as in the current scenario payments are made though cheques and demand drafts, which needs to be deposited manually. There is also a time lag between the actual debiting of funds and loading of the freight.
Rail Bhawan officials said e-payment facility for freight will not only be easier for the customer but also mean faster business for the railways. The railways load over 2 million tonne of freight every day and e-payment will make loading much faster.
It will also be in sync with the ministry?s stress on computerisation and modernisation of the railway network, the officials pointed out. The railways already provide e-ticketing facilities, which have proved to be very successful and have also helped passengers by reducing the long waiting lines at stations.
On the anvil are also plans to launch online auctioning of wagons and passenger berths, services, which are expected to begin this year.