Meter guage eight wheeler covered wagons of pay-load not exceeding 38 tonnes

Metre gauge eight-wheeler covered wagons, payload up to 38 tonnes

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 8606 91 10 (metre gauge eight-wheeler covered wagons of payload not exceeding 38 tonnes) requires compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) per Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 86 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) administers the ITC (HS) policy overlay for this tariff line, with Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) classification guidance applicable where dual-mode road-rail capability is in question.

What this is

HSN code

8606 91 10

Chapter

86 · Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings

Primary regulator

SIMS · ITC (HS) Policy Condition 2, Chapter 86 (DGFT Notification 33/2015-20)

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
Registration fee receipt from SIMS portal
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Apply for SIMS advance registration on the DGFT online portal no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the import consignment, paying the registration fee of ₹500. The automatic registration number issued remains valid for 75 days; file the bill of entry within that window.
DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 86
2
Confirm that the SIMS registration number is referenced on the bill of entry before customs out-of-charge. Note that the earlier requirement of a minimum 15-day advance registration window before arrival has been abolished; the 60-day outer limit and the 75-day validity of the registration number remain operative.
DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023
3
Where the wagon is capable of travelling on both road and rail, verify that the consignment is classifiable under Chapter 86 and not Chapter 87. CBIC Circular 14/2012-Cus dated 11-06-2012 governs the classification of dual-mode road-rail vehicles; misclassification under Chapter 87 invites re-assessment, duty demand, and interest.
CBIC Circular 14/2012-Cus dated 11-06-2012

A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is allowing the SIMS registration number to expire before the consignment arrives — the 75-day validity window is shorter than many importers assume, and a vessel delayed en route can render a valid registration number stale by the time the bill of entry is filed. A lapsed SIMS registration at the bill-of-entry stage results in customs detention and the cost of obtaining a fresh registration, with no provision for extending the original number; recalculate arrival windows at the time of vessel departure confirmation, not at the time of purchase order.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8606 91 10 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers this product family. Import of metre gauge covered wagons is governed by the Steel Import Monitoring System compulsory registration requirement under Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 86, administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Are re-imports of steel-content wagons for packaging purposes also subject to SIMS registration?

No. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, re-imports of steel goods for packaging purposes only — not involving value addition — are excluded from the SIMS registration requirement; similarly, steel items moved from DTA to SEZ and re-imported into DTA are exempt whether or not value addition occurred.

How early can an importer apply for SIMS registration, and how long does the number remain valid?

Registration may be applied for no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days from grant, per DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: SIMS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.