A Perspective on Rail Based Transit in South Asia Underlying - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A Perspective on Rail Based Transit in South Asia – Underlying Principles D.P Pande Asian Institute of Transport Development ( AITD)

 UN ESCAP has highlighted issues related to Border crossing for Rail Based Traffic.  Major Bottlenecks have been identified and alternatives suggested.  This presentation is for building on the efforts made so far. 2

Two activities are taking place simultaneously  Building of Physical Infrastructure – the Hardware  Resolving processes of harmonization associated with this Infrastructure – the Software Part 3

Harmonization involves multifarious agencies like  Customs  Internal Security  Public Health Association  Political Entities  This is true for Each Member Nation 4

AITD has been propagating along with UNESCAP- Regional and Sub regional movements to be encouraged  At present there are only bilateral agreements  No Mention of transit traffic – both for freight and passenger 5

 Turkey, Iran , Pakistan, India , Bangladesh have a contiguous railway Infrastructure available, there is only one break of gauge  Attempt is to extend Islamabad- Tehran- Istanbul movement to Delhi – Dhaka. 6

Two studies were conducted  Transit Facility between third country via India to Nepal  International Containers moving from port to hinterland ICD within India. 7

Transit Arrangement for Nepal Traffic across India  Goods are brought to a nominated port by sea.  Transshipped into railways wagons.  Customs & other formalities are completed at port  Goods moved by Rail to border between India & Nepal .  Customs Inspections at Border point .  Goods enter Nepal ICD. 8

Transit Arrangement for Nepal Traffic across India ….Continued  Underlying principle for Custom clearance are  Copy of export licenses / Letter of credit in advance  Goods are not unloaded at any Domestic Station  Goods cross the border in seal- intact conditions 9

Transit Arrangement for Nepal Traffic across India ….Continued  Executions of Bank Guarantee and Bond  Authorized Transporter nominated by the ICD operator in Nepal. 10

Import Traffic entering India for distribution through a hinterland ICD  Customs permit this movement without checking  Nominated Agency / Authorized Agent required  He is issued a Sub- Manifest – Transport – Permit (SMTP)  Authorized Agent executes a bond  Goods remain under transit up to hinterland ICD 11

Merging two examples  Salient feature are  Import License / Letter of Credit to be available in advance  Manifest to be available in advance  Consignment in container with a Custom/ Electronic seal 12

Merging two examples  Salient feature Contd..  Need of an agent to take liability of goods in transit within National Boundaries – SMTP for Transit  A mechanism to ensure that consignment crosses International Boundary without tampering of Seal - 13 RFID- GPS and scanner/any device

Merging two examples  Salient feature Contd..  Interface (EDI) between Railway and Customs IT systems. 14

New Development  India has signed and ratified TIR convention  International Treaty for road transport includes Multi – Modal Transit also  Deals with Customs facilitation measures and procedures across International Borders  Now e-TIR also being finalized 15

India-Pakistan- Iran are co-signatories  CARNETS are issued and recognized by all signatory nations  This will ease Border Crossings for sub-regional Traffic. 16

Contd..  IRU organization underwrites the risks involved  This concept needs to be established for rail based system also 17

AITD has an MOU with IRU  AITD is also associated with Asian Railway Association  ESCAP and AITD have a close association  AITD can help in setting up a rail based organization on the same lines as IRU  AITD can assist in finalizing a logistic provider 18

Use Of Technology  Implementing Electronic Cargo Tracking  These are seals with RFID / GPS enabled chips  Gives an alert mechanism in case seals are tampered before destination  This technology input can streamline transit across boundaries 19

Use Of Technology  Discussion with Custom Authority and Internal security  Need to install Scanners at borders highlighted  Various types of scanners are available 20

Use Of Technology(Contd..)  Advance Information of Goods is essential  Computer interfaces between  Shipper  Logistic provider 21

Use Of Technology(Contd..)  Customs officials  Security officials  Public Health officials  Customers at both ends required. 22

Reassess traffic potential on southern corridor of Trans Asian railway  South-East Asia has potential Traffic  In India alone growth of Automobile Traffic  This growth itself is of 7-8 % YOY 23

Summing Up  Build on Sub regional Transit like Bangladesh- India- Nepal- Pakistan- Iran – Turkey  Link to Landlocked countries of Bhutan and Afghanistan  Identify a logistic provider 24

Summing Up Contd..  Identify an organization like IRU  AITD can assist in this direction 25

Thank you