Pvt operators may run Rajdhani, Shatabdi, passenger trains on select routes

In its strategy for New India released in 2018, Niti Aayog had advocated for more private participation ownership of locomotives and rolling stock and modernising railway stations

The Indian Railways may soon be open for more investment from private players and may allow them to operate passenger trains on low-congestion and tourist routes. 

According to sources, the national transporter may also consider bringing in premium trains, including the Rajdhanis and Shatabdis, under this plan, for which a tender is likely to be floated within four months. On an experimental basis, two trains may be allotted to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), covering important tourism destinations or connecting major cities, in less congested routes. Various stakeholders, including the Unions are likely to be consulted before the