Apropos Bibek Debroy's column, "Stationary stations" (September 22), a quick calculation shows that privatisation of railway stations makes economic sense if done wisely. Around 8.4 billion passengers use the Indian Railways annually. Considering the average retail spend per passenger at railway stations to be Rs 30, the gross annual retail spend amounts to Rs 25,000 crore, or roughly Rs 28 lakh per station per month, 7,500 being the total number of stations. The Railways should invite private players and form passenger terminal management companies (PTMC) to take ownership of all railway stations, along with long-term responsibility for investment, maintenance and management of these stations.
A 15 per cent revenue share (Rs 3,750 crore or Rs 50 lakh per station per annum) can be a good incentive for PTMCs to develop retail facilities and keep the stations neat and clean.
Rajesh Seth, New Delhi
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