NEW DELHI: Tremendous progress in information and communication technology has now made it feasible to introduce Online Payment System through web that is expected to make the process of paying all types of charges including freight and ancillary charges simpler, convenient, speedier and transparent. This can be done by enabling on the web an option for the payment of various charges accrued to the customer.

Towards this direction Ministry of Railways on 30th April 2021 issued guidelines for Online Payment System for Freight Charges.

This Online Payment System will be provided through Freight Business Development (FBD) portal via SBI's payment gateway. It will provide the facility for collection of freight and all kinds of ancillary charges e.g. Premium Charge

(in case of premium indent), Wagon Registration Fee, Demurrage, Wharfage, Siding Charge, Shunting Charge, Rebooking Charge, Diversion Charge, etc. Online Payment System through FBD shall be available 24x7. These guidelines will be implemented from 01.06.2021.

Guidelines issued by Ministry of Railways for the Online Payment System for Freight Charges includes following key features:

Online Payment System:

•             Online Payment System will be provided through Freight Business Development (FBD) portal via SBI's payment gateway. It will provide the facility for collection of freight and all kinds of ancillary charges e.g. Premium Charge (in case of premium indent), Wagon Registration Fee, Demurrage, Wharfage, Siding Charge, Shunting Charge, Rebooking Charge, Diversion Charge, etc.

•             Online Payment System through FBD shall be available 24x7.

•             Customer/Secondary Customer willing to avail the facility shall be required to register themselves on the FBD portal as per the procedure laid down for Registration under Electronic registration of demand (e-RD) policy.

•             Consignor/Consignee will be referred as Customer and Endorsee/Handling Agent will be referred as Secondary Customer. Customers already registered in e-RD need not to register again for this facility.

•             Customer will be able to register his Endorsee/Handling Agent as Secondary Customer and indicate the name of charges (like Freight, Premium Charge in case of premium indent, Wagon Registration Fee, Demurrage, Wharfage, Siding Charge, Shunting Charge etc.) which will be paid by such Secondary Customer, on behalf of the Customer. However, as per extant guidelines, the liability for payment of Railway dues lies with the Customer (Consignor / Consignee) and shall be responsible for all payments.

•             Online payment shall be available through all modes like Net Banking/RTGS/NEFT, Credit card/Debit card/UPI through customer's Dash Board at the TMS location.

It may please be noted that Presently, Electronic Payment System is in place for collection of freight wherein all major and regular customers are covered. However, occasional customers use to make payment of freight through conventional mode. Further, payment of ancillary charges (e.g Wagon Registration Fee, Demurrage, Wharfage, Siding Charge, Shunting Charge etc) is done through conventional mode.