The Konkan Rail Corporation Limited ( KRCL) has conducted the trail run of RORO,Roll on Roll off, service from Suratkal in Karnataka to West Hill ,Near Kozhikode in Kerala.According to Southern Railway Sources the trial run was Success.
The KCRL has started the RORO service way back in 1999 operated up to Kolad and from 2004 up to Suratkal covering total 721 Km length.
The KRCL has made necessary alterations in the BRN wagon to accommodate the trucks in drive away manner.According to sources the time taken for accommodating a truck is just 15 -20 minutes.No need of shifting the load to the wagon at one end and again loading at the destination,which is not only time consuming but also costly also.Slight variation in the freight fare make the commodity uneconomical in the market.
Lot of advantages are the special features of the RORO mode of transport.The premium advantage is saving in fuel expense followed by relaxation in driver fatigue.The driver simple sit in the truck till the wagon offloaded at the destination.Reduction is road congestion on highways ,reduction in road accidents,Emission level control,timely arrival etc are the advantages of this facility.
When the economical advantage of the facility is worked out ,the facility appears to offer certain earnings to the truck owners.At present in addition to the fuel and maintenance expenditures at least Rs 2 per KM,at the minimum, has to be paid as Toll Fees at various Toll plazas sometimes go higher.In addition to these expenditures the delay in check post and loss of manpower etc could be saved.
The KRCL is planning to extend operation beyond West hill if the Railway Over Bridge accommodate the height of the wagon with trucks.
Only National Permit Vehicles can avail this service for want of payment of Tax Due to the Kerala State.Such vehicles need to pay tax at the Border Check Posts when the vehicle arrived at the Check Posts.
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