Haryana first state to partner Centre for rail infra

Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu leans on private sector investment to achieve targets of infra development

Haryana is likely to become the first state to enter into a partnership with the Ministry of Railways to create railway infrastructure in the state.

Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, while addressing the state's maiden investment summit organised in Gurgaon today, said that a Special Purpose Vehicle would be formed to tap the syneries of states across India for accelerating the growth of railway infrastructure. Haryana is the first to give consent to this initiative.

Inviting both, domestic investors and those from countries like China, Japan and  Korea, Prabhu said 400 railway stations in India need upgradation and the participation of private sector was imperative to achieve the targets of infrastructure development.

“Our railway stations have a footfall of seven billion per annum so the investors can assess the feasibility and returns from such  projects,” Prabhu said.

He said the ministry is mulling engaging the private sector to build 200 freight terminals over the next few years, the details of which will be worked out shortly.

The decision on integrated transport solutions would be made within the next few days, Prabhu added.

Faster movement of cargo can substantially reduce the cost of transportation, and the ministry is also mulling bringing out guidelines on cargo speed.

The rail coach factory in Haryana that was announced a few years ago may now become a realty, as the ministry will expedite the approvals for the project. The Haryana government had earmarked a land parcel of 120 acres near Sonepat for the Factory.

Prabhu said Haryana could become a logistic hub for the north, with the proactive participation of the state in due course.