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grade, i.e., works which would have to be abandoned if the siding were closed, for example, earthwork, bridge (exclusive of girders), culverts, ballast,…

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TypeCommercial Circular
Topicfreight
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Summary

grade, i.e., works which would have to be abandoned if the siding were closed, for example, earthwork, bridge (exclusive of girders), culverts, ballast, buildings, etc. These items were below the track and could not be shifted for use elsewhere payable on the cost of a private siding because the cost is borne entirely by the siding owner.

Text of the circular

RAILWAY SIDING 
Lesson 3 
SURVEY & CONSTRUCTION OF SIDINGS 
& APPORTIONTMENT OF COSTS 
3.1  Proposals for Assisted/Private siding 
3.1.1 The promoter of siding shall usually make a request to the zonal Railway concerned to provide 
the siding giving the name of railway station from where siding would take off, the volume of in 
ward/outward traffic expected with their origin and destination stations, etc. 
3.1.2 The proposal is examined by the railway in regard to its financial profitability. Survey and 
construction can be done either by the Railway on realization of the charges due from the promoter of 
the siding or can permit party to undertake the works as over the years, a number of private agencies 
have come up which can efficiently undertake surveys, construction and other activities related to 
opening of sidings. These agencies mostly consist of former railwaymen who have vast experience and 
expertise in various aspect of railway working. 
3.2 Railways’ Construction Organization 
3.2.1 Every zonal Railway has a construction organization headed by a chief Administrative officer or a 
General Manager (cost). The construction organization undertakes surveys and studies for major works 
like new lines, doubling, remodeling of large marshalling yards etc. However many times, the 
organization being occupied with important works and studies, is not able to handle proposals from the 
siding promoters for private sidings.  As a result, private consultancy agencies and firms along with the 
public sector organizations, RITES and IRCON International Ltd. are undertaking the studies. 
3.3  Traffic/Engineering Surveys 
3.3.1 
The Indian Railway Code for the Engineering Department  lays down the features to be covered 
in a traffic survey and various engineering survey, viz reconnaissance, preliminary and final location 
surveys. 
3.3.2 Traffic Survey 
The traffic survey is carried out to assess the additional traffic which will be attracted by construction 
of a new siding. For this, the existing passenger and goods traffic and future prospects are examined 
keeping in mind major developmental activities in the area to be served by the proposed new siding. The 
principal objective of a traffic survey is to estimate the additional earnings and to compare these with the 
expected expenditure in order to see if the expenditure would be justified. The DCF (Discounted Cash 
Flow) rate of return on the capital outlay should be about 14% or more to financially justify the project. 
3.3.3  In the case of a large industrial plant if the need for a railway siding and allied facilities is well 
established, and the plant cannot function without the railway siding, it is not necessary to compare         
earnings with expenditure on the siding works and the usual traffic survey is not relevant. What is          
important is  to keep the costs as low as possible by planning the siding works carefully after examining 
the possible alternatives. 
3.3.4 When a comparison has to be made between two modes of transport, say rail and road; or 
between different rail arrangements besides checking the feasibility of different alternatives, accurate  
assessment of costs is very important. Costs should include both the capital and recurring costs. Because 
the mode of transport requiring lesser capital investment may be costlier to operate and maintain. 
Reconnaissance Survey 
3.3.5 In a reconnaissance survey a rapid examination of the topographical features of possible siding 
alignments is done to check feasibility of the alignments. The reconnaissance survey is an exploratory 
exercise.

Preliminary Survey 
3.3.6 This is more detailed, covering longitudinal and cross levels; details of waterways which will 
require bridging; structures which will need to be avoided; gradients; curves, etc. This is also known as 
feasibility study the cost of works is also estimated during the preliminary survey/feasibility study which is 
known as preliminary co

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