Wharfage:

Wharfage charge should be levied on goods/consignment not removed from railway premises after the expiry of free time (Section VI of Railways Act 1989). No Wharfage will be levied on the consignment held by Railway administration on lien in terms of Section 83 of Railways Act 1989.

Permissible free time for removal of goods from railway premises:

(a) Goods stacked in goods sheds etc., waiting to be loaded in wagons/rake

• Group I   – 12 hours from the expiry of free time for loading of wagons/rake
• Group II  – 15 hours from the expiry of free time for loading of wagons/rake
• Group III – 72 hours from the expiry of free time for loading of wagons/rake

(b) Goods unloaded from wagons/rake, waiting to be removed from goods shed etc.

• Group I   – 12 hours from the expiry of free time for unloading of wagons/rake
• Group II  – 15 hours from the expiry of free time for unloading of wagons/rake
• Group III – 72 hours from the expiry of free time for unloading of wagons/rake

National Holidays, namely 26th January, 15th August and 2nd October will not be reckoned while calculating free time for removal of goods from railway premises and for charging Wharfage except in the case of live stock, perishable goods and goods loaded/unloaded at such stations/goods sheds which are notified as ‘Notified Station’ for removal of goods without delay.

Guidelines for advance stacking at Railway premises:

1. Permission for advance stacking will be granted to such rail users only, who have indented for the wagons.
2. Rail users desirous of availing the facility of advance stacking, will apply for advance stacking inter alia mentioning the details of indent and giving an undertaking that the stacking will be done at their own risk and responsibility. No claims for loss, damage etc. arising out of stacking will be admissible.
3. Advance stacking of goods is permitted for a period not exceeding 5 days or less as notified by RRM of the concerned region without levy of any charge for this purpose.
4. Sr. RTMs/RTMs are authorized to grant permission for advance stacking up to a maximum period of five days.
5. Wagons will be supplied against the registered indent only after expiry of the permitted time for advance stacking or completion of stacking, whichever is earlier. After supply of wagons and expiry of free time for loading, rules for levy of Wharfage charge will apply.
6. Once advance stacking permission has been granted, cancellation of indents will not be permissible up to fifteen days from the 1st day of advance stacking. In case Rail User cancels the indent within aforesaid period, stacking charge will be levied for the whole period of stacking.
7. However, if a Rail User cancels his indent after fifteen days from the 1st day of advance stacking and the wagons have not been supplied till such time, no stacking charge will be levied. In such a case, consignment should be removed within 24 hours of the cancellation of indent, else it will attract levy of Wharfage charge for period beyond 24 hours of the cancellation of indent.
8. Records of particulars (e.g. date, time etc.) should be maintained in all cases where advance stacking has been permitted.
9. No stacking charge will be levied till the supply of wagons even if supply is not done immediately after completion of stacking or lapse of advance stacking period.
10. Stacking charge will be levied at the rates of Wharfage charge, as notified.
11. Extant rules for waiver of Wharfage charge will continue to apply in the case of waiver of stacking charge also.

Wharfage Rates:

Wharfage Charge will be levied on per wagon per hour basis uniformly for all types of wagons, whether 4 wheeler or 8 wheeler or any other type.

• Group I   – Rs.150/- per wagon per hour or part thereof
• Group II  – Rs.120/-  per wagon per hour or part thereof
• Group III – Rs.75/-  per wagon per hour or part thereof

                                                                                                                                           Updated on 19/12/2023