Fly ash transportation boosting Indian Railways’ revenue

 

 

 

FLY ash is emerging as new money-spinner for the cash-strapped Indian Railways as two divisions -- SECR and CR -- in Nagpur have found new leads for maximising their freight revenue. Coal is main stay of either division but the ever-changing dynamics of hauling have led to shortening of leads which is affecting revenue from freight. So, with Business Development Unit (BDU), new course is being charted by identifying new basked of commodities for haulage. Apart from Railways, power companies also are benefiting from increased demand for fly ash as it lessens burden at their end. Apart from new traffic, the most important part in transportation of fly ash to far off destination is bringing in more revenue for Railways.

 

The efforts put in by field officers at South East Central Railway (SECR) and also at Central Railway (CR) is now starting to show results. During the year, till end of November, SECR’s Nagpur Division earned around Rs 56 crore from transporting fly ash while Central Railway is just beginning to haul it from one siding and earned Rs 1.15 cr in just over a month’s time. At present cement industry alone is single biggest user of fly ash as same acts as binding agent. SECR officials said, from April to November-end about 176 rakes were loaded from Adani’s plant at Tiroda (5x660 MW) in Bhandara district. Each of the rakes averaged 50 to 58 wagons either of BCCW or BCFC types that are modified wagons useful for pollution-free transportation of fly ash. Sharing the details with ‘The Hitavada’, S G Rao, Assistant Commercial Manager (Goods) and Divisional Spokesperson, Central Railway, Nagpur Division, said, “The BDU set out to search for new traffic keeping in mind bulk transportation and long lead.

 

Fly ash fits the bill and given the problem faced by power plants in its disposal, the field officials reach out to some companies in Mumbai and roped them in for dispatching it to cement companies in Southern India.” “Further, the companies have just started loading of fly ash from siding of PMEC, a unit of GMR Group at Warora, and the designation was MAPT siding of ACC limited in Bangalore Division. The BDU tied-up with M/s Ashtech Pvt. Ltd., for lifting the fly ash and delivering it to cement plants. This addition of new commodity in the basket of Nagpur Division has come as a booster in addition of ever growing increase in haulage of coal. So far four rakes were loaded totalling 15,848 tonnes and earning stood at Rs 1.15 crore so far,” said Rao. As to SECR, the fly ash is being delivered to Vasavadatta Cements, Wadi, and to UltraTech Cement unit near Bengaluru. On an average, daily six rakes are being transported and local officials said, “One more siding that of NTPC at Mauda is set to join in next few days.”

 

The uptick in loading fly ash is due to Railway Board’s policy wherein they provide rebate in freight charges to encourage private players to deploy their own wagons. Silos are utilised for loading of wagons (BCFC/BCCW type) that are fully covered and have small openings 4/6/8 on top that provides room for filling them with fly ash. As these wagons have bottom discharge mechanism operated through vacuum pressure, the unloading is also hassle free operation. According to an official in Nagpur, “UltraTech Cement has invested in purchasing modern wagons as Railways provided up to 45 per cent rebate in tariff for transporting fly ash that is lifted free of cost. The conventional Boxon type of wagons also are utilised for dispatching fly ash and for the same 15 per cent rebate is provided.” It may be noted that power companies provide incentive for lifting fly ash, mostly for use in road construction at nearby sites. As per information, about 30 per cent of transport cost is subsidised for lifting fly ash and for transporting it at place of utilisation.