• ¨  Ministry of Railways approved reforms to the Model Concession Agreement for Container Train Operators (CTOs).

    ¨   The revised framework introduces a single All India Licence for container train operations across the entire Indian railway network.

    ¨     The new licence removes route-specific restrictions on Container Train Operators.

    ¨   The unified system replaces the earlier category-based and route-linked permission system for freight movement.

    ¨     A uniform non-refundable registration fee of ₹25 crore has been fixed under the new framework.

    ¨     Earlier, route-based categories carried registration fees ranging from ₹10 crore to ₹50 crore.

    ¨     The initial concession period will remain 20 years.

    ¨     Operators can receive a further 20-year extension after the completion of the initial concession period.

    ¨     The extension or renewal fee will be zero, subject to satisfactory performance under the concession terms.

    ¨     Existing Category I operators can continue under their active licences until the end of their current concession period.

    ¨     Category I operators can migrate to the new framework at the time of renewal without paying any additional fee.

    ¨     Existing Category II, III and IV operators can migrate early or renew under the new system.

    ¨     They will have to pay a differential fee of ₹15 crore for migration or renewal.

    ¨     The ₹15 crore differential fee represents the difference between the new ₹25 crore fee and the ₹10 crore already paid.

    ¨     The reform applies to the 22 existing Container Train Operators (CTOs) in the Indian rail freight sector.

    ¨     The reform aims to simplify business procedures and encourage greater private participation in rail freight.

    ¨     The change was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and the Ministry of Railways.