Cyclone Gaja relief materials: Railway waives freight charges

Obliging Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who had written to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal in this regard, the Railway Board on Tuesday issued an order allowing waiver of freight charge to transport relief materials to the cyclone hit Delta districts.

A RB order said, “Indian Railway has decided to permit inter-state and intra-state free transport for aid and relief materials by coaching trains (parcels vans/VP/SLR) and goods trains, including in less than standard composition rakes to severe cyclonic storm (Gaja) affected districts of Tamil Nadu.”

The fee waiver and other guidelines would remain effective till December 10, 2018 or till further orders. The board has empowered divisional railway managers to take decisions on necessary action, including attachment of additional coaches to various trains.