Parcel booking in less popular trains to cost less

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Parcel booking in less popular trains will go down due to downgrading for trains with less than 60 per cent of SLR capacity utilisation in the Railway Budget 2007-08.

Announcing this, Railway Minister Lalu Yadav told Parliament that this was part of the rationalisation process for those trains with less than 60 per cent of SLR capacity utilisation and where SLRs could not be leased at scheduled or higher parcel rates despite issue of open tenders.

"If any train is leased out at scheduled rate in one direction but no lease offer is received, even after inviting open tenders, in the return direction, and its utilisation is less than 60 per cent of its capacity, then its class will be downgraded to the next lower class in that direction," he said.

However, the policy to lease brakes vans and parcel vans through open tenders at scheduled or lower rates had borne good results.

A review of parcel and luggage rates will be completed in the first two months of each financial year, that is by May 31.

UNI