Preferential Traffic Order (PTO)

Preferential Traffic Order (PTO)-

Section 70 of Railway Act: - According to this section no priority / preference will be given to booking and transportation of Goods. It will be done on “First come first serve” basis.

Section 71 of Railway Act: - According to this section orders are issued by Central Govt. to Railway administration from time to time, for giving priority/preference to booking and movement of particular type of commodities/goods in the interest of nation, interest of public in general or for industrial development.

P.T.O. is published by Central Govt. in Gazette. Railway Administration is informed of the same. Railway administration distributes the same to stations in the form of a booklet. Its validity is 1 year. While granting priority route is decided. And goods are carried by that route only. 

Priorities have been distinguished as under:-

Priority A: - Military traffic sponsored by Milrail and approved by Railway Board.

Priority B: - 1) Relief material for victims of natural calamities sponsored by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Secretary of Central / State Govt. or by a nominated Non-Government Organization.

2)-Food grains and levy sugar for Public Distribution System (PDS) or other welfare schemes sponsored by FCI, other commodities sponsored by Central Govt. agencies which are approved by Railway board.

Priority C: - All programmed traffic approved by Railway Board/Zonal Railway under monthly or quarterly Railway programme.

Priority- D: - All other traffic not included in Priority ‘A’ to ‘C’.

General Instruction:

1. Block Rake traffic is preferred over Piece-meal traffic.

2. Traffic will have preference over other traffic within the same class of priority in the following            order.

i. Traffic guaranteed under some special schemes e.g.-WIS, FFS, TIELS etc.

ii. Traffic booked from Goods shed / Sidings with round the clock working.

iii. Traffic booked from full rake handling siding having mechanized loading facility

iv. Single point Block Rakes over Multi point/ two point/ mini rakes.

3. Two days in a week shall be reserved and notified for allotment of rakes as per the date of                    registration (ODR) irrespective of the class of priority.

4. Any traffic under special orders of Ministry of Railways / Railway Board / Zonal Railway.