Railways allows container train operators a single All India licence with Rs 25 crore fee
Indian Railways on 5 August 2026 approved changes to the Model Concession Agreement letting Container Train Operators run on all routes under a single All India licence with a uniform Rs 25 crore registration fee.
Summary
Indian Railways has approved modifications to the Model Concession Agreement for Container Train Operators (CTOs), the Railways Ministry said on 5 August 2026. CTOs will be allowed to run container trains on all routes under a single All India licence, ending route-wise categorisation of licences, with a uniform registration fee of Rs 25 crore and no renewal fee for extension. The changes, to be notified in the Gazette, aim to cut transport costs and pollution, ease road congestion and benefit industry, especially MSMEs.
Key facts
- Reform
- Single All India licence for Container Train Operators
- Fee
- Uniform registration fee Rs 25 crore; no renewal fee for extension
- Instrument
- Modified Model Concession Agreement
- Ended
- Route-wise licence categorisation
Practice MCQs 2 questions
What uniform registration fee will Container Train Operators pay under the single All India licence approved by Indian Railways in August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Rs 25 crore
CTOs will pay a uniform registration fee of Rs 25 crore under the single All India licence.
Consider the following statements about the container train licensing reform of August 2026: 1. The existing route-wise categorisation of licences will be discontinued. 2. The reform was made by amending the Model Concession Agreement of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. Indian Railways approved modifications to its own Model Concession Agreement for container train operators.