General Manager
All Zonal Railways
Sub: Relaxation in Demurrage and Wharfage rules
Ref: (i) Rates Master Circular/ Demurrage-Wharfage-Waiver/2016/0 and its corrigenda
(ii) Rates Master Circular/ CRT-CCR-Hubs & Spoke/2015/0 and its corrigenda
(iii) Board’s Letter E-office No.667735/2020 dt. 23.03.2020
Please refer to the Board’s letter under reference (iii) wherein sanction of the competent authority is accorded for relaxation of Demurrage and Wharfage rules till 31.03.2020.
Ministry of Finance vides OM No.18/04/2020-PPD dt. 19.02.2020 inter alia citing ”A force majeure(FM) means extraordinary events or circumstances beyond human control such as an event described as an Act of God (as a natural calamity)” has clarified that spread of coronavirus should be considered as a case of natural calamity and Force Majeure clause may be invoked.
In partial modifications of the Board’s letter/circulars under reference, the competent authority has decided that the period from 22.03.2020 to 14.04.2020 shall be treated under force majeure and none of the following mentioned charges shall arise for this period-
Zonal Railways must coordinate with State Government authorities to ensure logistics support in order to keep up the essential goods transportation.
This issues with the concurrence of Finance Dte. of Ministry of Railways.
