A move that is expected to add inflationary pressure on the economy, railways have once again hiked the parcel and luggage rates by 25% on all goods with immediate effect, barely 2 months after increasing the freight rates. With the recent hike, the railways aims additional revenue of Rs 370 crore in the current financial year. In 2011-12, from parcel and luggage, railways earned Rs 1,600 crore.
The new rates would be applicable on all goods including newspapers and magazines. Among the goods generally booked in parcel service of the railway are tyres, newspapers and magazines, pharmaceuticals, pulses and flour. On the other hand, the hike will not be applicable on special parcel trains.
On the whole, there are 3 types of parcel rates - Standard, Premium and Rajdhani. Standard rates are valid on goods booked in parcel service of non-express trains whereas premium rates are applicable in express and mail trains. Rajdhani rates are valid for goods booked in Rajdhani and Shatabdi.
Before the hike, standard rate was Rs 1.31 per 10 kg for 50 km and for the same weight and distance, the rate has now been increased to Rs 1.61. Similarly, premium rate is raised to Rs 3.28 per 10 kg for 50 km whereas Rajdhani rates are at Rs 4.92 for the same weight and distance.
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