MoS Railways gives approvals to PPP proposals

Railways has given 'in principle' approvals to several proposals under its public private partnership (PPP) plan in sectors like port connectivity, elevated rail corridor and coach manufacturing factory.

The 12th Plan had envisaged port connectivities, production units, elevated rail corridor, private freight terminals, procurement of special purpose high capacity wagons and station development among others to be implemented through PPP, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Besides, high speed corridor, dedicated freight corridor, logistics parks, electric locomotive factory, diesel locomotive factory, rail coach manufacturing factory and certain electoral works are to be implemented through public private partnership.

Railways has received 10 proposals under port connectivity plans out of which 'in principle' clearance has been granted for nine, Sinha said.

Forty five proposals have been received for private Freight Terminals and 'in principle' approvals have been granted to 22 such proposals and notifications for 19 have been issued, the Minister said.

Approval for 53 rakes has been given under liberalised Wagon Investment Scheme and approval for six rakes under Special Freight Terminal Operators scheme, six rakes under Automobile Freight Terminal and 10 rakes under Wagon Leasing Scheme has been given.