Railways Invite Private firms To Operate 151 Passenger Train On 109 Routes

New Delhi, July 02: Bringing a major reform, the railway ministry kick-started the operation to allow private players to operate passenger trains services. The railway ministry invited Request For Qualifications (RFQ) for private participation for the operation of passenger train services over 109 pairs of routes through 151 modern trains.

 

 

The proposals come around eight months after an empowered group of secretaries led by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant started steering the long-pending subject. This is going to be the first initiative of private investment for running passenger trains over the Indian Railways network.

 

 

The 109 OD Pairs have formed into 12 Clusters across the Indian Railway network. Each Train shall have a minimum of 16 coaches. Mumbai, Delhi, Howrah, Patna, Jaipur, Chennai, Prayagraj, Secunderabad, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru are major clusters for which the players are keen to run 16-coach trains.

 

Majority of Trains to be manufactured in India (Make in India). The private entity shall be responsible for financing, procuring, operation, and maintenance of the trains. The project would entail a private sector investment of about Rs 30,000 crore.

 

“Trains shall be designed for a maximum speed of 160 kmph. There would be a substantial reduction in journey time. The running time taken by a train shall be comparable to or faster than the fastest train of Indian Railways operating in the respective route,” the ministry’s release said.

 

The trains will be operated by drivers and guards of the Indian Railways and the private entity will share its revenues with the national transporter. The concession period for the project shall be 35 years and the private entity shall pay the Indian Railways fixed haulage charges, energy charges as per actual consumption, and a share in gross revenue determined through a transparent bidding process.

 

The operation of the trains by the private entity will boost the key performance indicators like punctuality, reliability, upkeep of trains. It would be governed by standards & specifications and requirements specified by Indian Railways.

 

The objective of this initiative is to introduce modern technology rolling stock with reduced maintenance, reduced transit time. This initiative will also boost job creation, reduce transit time, provide enhanced safety & world-class facilities to passengers.