NEW DELHI: Railways on Tuesday unveiled policies for new bulk cement terminals and rate rationalisation for bulk transporation, which is likely to reduce the cost of the construction material. Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said reduction in cost of cement will benefit both the manufacturers as well as consumers looking to own affordable houses.Moreover, the cleaner, faster and door-to-door delivery of bulk cement will give a fillip to the construction industry and transportation costs will reduce by 30%. Railway board chairman said the movement of cement without first packing them in bags will reduce air pollution as well.According to the scheme, the cement transportation cost has been made uniform at a flat rate of 90 paisa per tonne per km. It will also promote tank containers – a new type of wagons – in which bulk cement can be filled and transported to any location for consumption.”This new innovation will make environmentally clean transportation at a significantly reduced cost as cement bags will not be used,” Vaishnaw said.Railways will facilitate setting up of bulk cement terminals across the country as transportation of bulk cement from plant to the terminals near consumption centres is cost effective and environment friendly.
