The document outlines simplified procedures for establishing private sidings under Indian Railways, detailing timelines, cost responsibilities, and operational guidelines. Siding owners must manage capital costs, maintenance, and adhere to railway specifications while benefiting from a freight discount. Key responsibilities include signing an integrated agreement, ensuring proper maintenance, and installing required facilities such as weighbridges and management systems.

1. RAILWAY PRIVATE SIDINGS
PROCEDURES MADE SIMPLIFIED
BY INDIAN RAILWAYS
Author: Mohammad Bakhsh
Fmr Dy Chief Engineer WR

2. SINGLE WINDOW SERVICE
CHIEF TRANPORT PLANNING OFFICER (for
all siding matters)
CHIEF ENGINEER GENERAL COORDINATING
OFFICER (throughout the construction stage)
CHIEF COMMERCIAL MANAGER
((coordinating officer as soon as siding is
notified commissioned)
AT RAILWAY BOARD LEVEL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CIVIL
ENGINEERING(GENERAL) ( throughout construction
stage)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/FREIGHT MARKETTING
COORDINATING OFFICER POST COMMISIONING

3. For all approvals before start of work D + 7 Months
For commissioning of Private sidings
D + 12-25 Months
D is Date of receipt of application from the party for Private Siding
project
Time Line

4. Extension or Closure of proposals
The proposal become nonresponsive or party delaying
or incomplete proposal will be declared dormant .
GM at Zonal level and DRM at Divisional level monitor
all progress on private sidings.

5. To avoid delay please avail services
of railway approved consultant.
M/s Vatsa Rail Tech Consultancy
Services Gurugram INDIA (M)
+919971688857

6. Capital cost of sidings
The siding owner shall bear the cost of siding from take off point to the
serving station
The capital cost of all traffic facilities as to be approved by COM shall be
fully born by the Railway
The siding owners shall bear the cost of augmentation, development
within their premises
All development for the proposed traffic facilities and construction
shall be as per railway approved specification and drawings /standards

7. Land for connectivity
The railway may lease land to the private siding owner if it is not in use
.as per extant instructions
Siding shall generally take off from existing serving station.
Connection however between two station shall be provided at owner's cost
incase including additional facilities, staff etc..

8. Common Users Facilities
A fixed freight discount @10% on out ward traffic
shall be given to the siding owner who opts for bearing
cost of work in railway area for 10 years or the time of
full investment recovery.
This freight discount shall actually be the repayment of investment
made by siding owner on behalf of railways and is not really a freight
rebate in strictly sense.As such this freight discount shall be admissible in
addition to other rebates such as empty flow direction.

9. COST OF GAUGE CONVERSION
Railways will agree to conversion of gauge subject to ROR
@14% averaging 24 months traffic projections as submitted
by the siding owner

10. Maintenance of Assets
The Responsibility of siding owner
The owner shall have option to maintain the track
by railways or by themselves as per agreement . The
siding shall however be maintained properly.
Maintenance of Signal and Telecommunication
Equipments inside the siding shall be done by the party at its
own cost by the contractor approved by the railway.
Railway shall inspect these equipments once a year and shall be
charged to the siding owner.
Latest technology shall be used in signaling to maintain to maintain
uniformity in signal installation

11. Maintenance of OHE
OHE maintenance cost of existing as well as new sidings shall be born
by the railways
C&W Examination
Normally no C&W facility shall be developed inside the
plant/yard however in exceptional cases.
Handling of Wagons in Sidings
The siding owner shall ensure that no railway wagon gets damaged.

12. Commercial Staff
The siding owner has to bear cost of one commercial staff and expenditure
so worked out has to be deposited in advance for 10 years for
uninterrupted working of siding.
Provision of other facilities
The siding owner has to install In-motion electric
weighbridge as per the latest instructions having outward traffic.
Terminal Management System (TMS)
Terminals of Freight Operating Information System (FOIS) with access
Shall be installed at the siding. At owner’s cost.

13. AGREEMENT
An integrated Private Siding Agreement shall be
signed by the siding owner before commissioning of the siding