Demurrage Rules – Free Time & ChargesFree time for loading/unloading of wagons and demurrage charges
Demurrage: Demurrage chargers are levied for detention of wagon/vehicle beyond the free time allowed for loading/unloading of goods. The charges are calculated on the number of wagons per hour or part thereof in excess of free time.
The free time for loading and unloading of wagons is as detailed below:
Free time for loading and unloading of wagons at Goods Sheds & Sidings:
| Type of Wagons | Permissible Free Time (in hours & minutes) | |||
| MECHANIZED | MANUAL | |||
| Loading | Unloading | Loading | Unloading | |
| OPEN wagons like BOXN, BOX, BOST, BOXNHA, BOXNHS etc. |
5:00 | 7:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| HOPPER wagons like BOBS, NBOBS, BOBR, NBOBR, BOBY, NBOBY |
5:00 | 2:30 | N.A. | N.A. |
| FLAT wagons like BFR, BRH, BRN, BFK, BFKI, BFNS, CONCORD rakes etc. |
6:00 | N.A. | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| COVERED wagons like BCN, BCNA, BCNHS, BCNAHS, BCX, BCXN etc. |
N.A. | N.A. | 5:00 (1 to 20 wagons) | 5:00 (1 to 20 wagons) |
| 7:00 (21 to 30 wagons) | 7:00 (21 to 30 wagons) | |||
| 9:00 (31 wagons& above) | 9:00 (31 wagons& above) | |||
| TANK wagons (white oil) | 6:00 | 6:00 (upto 29 wagons) | N.A. | N.A. |
| 8:00 (30wagons & above) | ||||
| TANK wagons(black oil) | 7:00 | 7:00 (upto 29 wagons) | N.A | N.A |
| 9:00 (30wagons & above) | ||||
| Military wagons-KM. | N.A | N.A | 4:00 | 4:00 |
| Military wagons other than KM wagons like DBKM etc. |
N.A | N.A | 5:00(upto 20 wagons) |
5:00(upto 20 wagons) |
| N.A | N.A | 7:00(21 wagons & above) |
7:00 (21 wagons & above) |
|
| Type of commodity | ||||
| Container # | 3:00 | 3:00 | N.A | N.A |
| Consignments handled by Crane |
7:00 | 8:00 | N.A | N.A |
| Livestock | N.A | N.A | 4:00 | 4:00 |
Note: Loading by pay loaders is a type of mechanized loading.
N.A. : stands for ‘not applicable’.
# Permissible free time in case of double operation of container traffic i.e. unloading followed by loading in the same wagons, shall be 5 hours. However, in the case of container commodity handled by sling cranes, the free time for loading/unloading will be 6 hours for single operation and 8 hours for double operation.
The entire group of wagons placed for loading/unloading shall be treated as one unit for the purpose of levy of demurrage charges i.e. even if one wagon out of the group is detained for loading/unloading beyond the prescribed free time, demurrage will be leviable on all the wagons in the group.
Rates of demurrage Charge:
Demurrage charge shall be levied @Rs.150/- per 8-wheeled wagon per hour, or part of an hour, for detention of wagon in excess of the permissible free time for loading or unloading. Demurrage charge will be levied in graded manner as under:-
| Duration of excess detention beyond the free time of stock | Rate of demurrage |
| Upto 6 hours | Base Rate (Rs. 150 per wagon per hour or part thereof) |
| Beyond 6 hours upto 12 hours | Base Rate + 10% |
| Beyond 12 hours upto 24 hours | Base Rate + 25% |
| Beyond 24 hours upto 48 hours | Base Rate + 50% |
| Beyond 48 hours upto 72 hours | Twice of Base Rate |
| Beyond 72 hours | Thrice of Base Rate |
(Note: The rates and free time are subject to change from time to time, Please contact the station for further details.)
Updated on 19/12/2023
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