Transport Act, 1944

Revised schedules of maximum railway charges of the Company.

72.—(1) At any time after the revised railway classification of merchandise applicable to the Company has been settled by the Minister, the Company may, and, if required by the Minister, shall, within such time as the Minister may appoint, submit to the Minister revised schedules, drawn up in such manner as the Minister may direct, of the maximum charges proposed to be made according to the said classification and shall show in those schedules the rates for the conveyance by rail of merchandise, the amount of terminal charges and the fares for the conveyance by rail of passengers and their luggage, and thereupon the following provisions shall have effect—

(a) the Company shall publish the said schedules in such manner as the Minister may direct;

(b) the Minister, if he thinks fit, may refer the said schedules to the Advisory Committee for their report and advice thereon;

(c) the Minister, after consideration of the said schedules, any representations made by interested persons and, in case the said schedules have been referred to the Advisory Committee, their report and advice, shall settle the said schedules and fix the date on which they are to come into force.

(2) When settling the schedules of charges under this section the Minister shall determine what reductions shall be made from the maximum charges where damageable merchandise is carried by the Company under owner's risk conditions, and such reductions shall be shown or indicated in the schedules in such manner as the Minister directs.

(3) As on and from the date on which the revised schedules of maximum railway charges come into operation, the charges appearing therein shall, subject to any alterations made by the Minister under this Chapter, be the maximum charges which the Company shall be entitled to make for all services in respect of which the said charges are fixed.