Railways to get policy for development issues

The Indian Railways will ready a road map and a guiding policy in the next two-and-half months on development-related issues during the next 10-15 years, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said Friday.

"We will be having a guiding policy frame work and a road map for the growth and direction of the railways in the next two-and-half months," Sinha said adding: "This document will give the right direction to railway development."

According to the minister, who was speaking at an industry event being organised here by the industry body PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the road map will also aid in the policy framework and guidance for 50-70 mega projects scheduled to come up though the public private partnership (PPP) in the coming years.

The minister said top authorities of the present dispensation including the railway minister, railway board chairman and host of other stakeholders are contributing to finalisation of the document.

The minister added that the future budgets of the railways would serve the government's intention of executing mega railways projects under the new policy plan.

Earlier, the minister had said that the government was awaiting the recommendations of the Bibek Debroy Committee on mobilisation of resources and restructuring.

"This will provide consistency in policies and approach which are the key requirements to attract private sector participation and investment in railways," Sinha had said.

The minister added that the railways are committed to speeding up reforms in order to augment capacity, induct new technologies with a view to increasing freight share and improving passenger facilities.

Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said that the focus of railways infrastructure projects will be executed in PPP mode.