Budget 2019: Rs 50-trn investments in Railways by 2030; PPP model allowed

The Indian Railways will depend heavily on public-private partnership (PPP) projects for growth despite its past record of slow pace in attracting investors.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pointed out sectors for PPP projects that were not open earlier. Private investments are being pushed thanks to the Rs 50-trillion investment required between 2018 and 2030, which the government would find difficult to generate by itself.

“Given that the capital expenditure outlays of the Railways are around Rs 1.5-1.6 trillion, completing all sanctioned projects would take decades. It is, therefore, proposed to use public-private partnerships to unleash faster development and completion