Lok Sabha Question No. 2900 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Recommendations of Bibek Derroy Committee
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: K. Shanmuga Sundaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2900 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2020

## RECOMMENDATIONS OF BIBEK DERROY COMMITTEE

2900.   SHRI SHANMUGA SUNDARAM K.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has accepted the recommendations of Bibek  Debroy  panel  for  restructuring  Railways  by  accommodating private players to run passenger as well as freight trains;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Ministry has accepted another recommendation to withdraw welfare measures/services like running schools, hospitals and managing Railway Protection Force;
- (d)  if  so,  the  effects  of  social  impact  on  these  services  and  the manner in which the railway security will be taken care of;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  is  having  any  proposal  to  set  up  a Regulator for Railways; and
- (f)  if  so,  the  functions  and  powers  of  the  regulator  vis-à-vis  the Railway Board?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) & (b): The committee chaired by Sh. Bibek Debroy had inter-alia recommended  Concessioning  of  commercial  operation  of  train service like Rajdhani/Shatabdi to private parties.

Railways  have  planned  to  introduce  150  passenger  trains  through private operators in PPP mode. In this regard, a group of secretaries (GoS)  has  been  constituted  in  the  year  2019,  with  a  term  of  one year,  inter-alia,  to  advise  on  the  terms  and  conditions  for  private passenger train operator to operate trains with world class technology  covering  the  Indian  Railways  network  through  PPP mode. The draft Request for Qualification and the draft Concession Agreement documents have been uploaded on the website of NITI Ayog  and  Indian  Railways  for  seeking  feedback  from  the  stake holders.  'Tejas' train, run by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation  (IRCTC),  have  been  introduced  on  two  routes  namely Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad.

Earlier in the year 2006, Railway has unveiled a policy for running of container trains by private container operators for transportation of containerized cargo. Based on the policy of Railways, on date, 19 companies including container corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR) are having license to run the container trains.

These  Container  trains  are  run  on  demand  of  licensed  private container  train  operators  on  payment  of  due  haulage  charge between  various  permitted  terminals  and  inland  container  depot (ICDs) in Indian Railways.

(c): No, Sir. However, Outsourcing of non-core activities like running schools, hospitals etc is being done on a need basis. (d): Does not arise. (e) and (f) : Government has notified the  resolution for setting up of Rail  Development  Authority(RDA).  RDA  has  been  envisaged  as  an advisory/recommendatory body.  The role/mandate of RDA inter-alia includes providing expert advice to Government to make informed decision on following issues:(i) Pricing of services commensurate with costs; (ii) Measures for enhancement of non-fare revenue;

(iii) Protection of consumer interests, by ensuring quality of service and cost optimization; (iv) Promoting competition, efficiency and economy; (v)  Encouraging market development and participation of stakeholders  in  the  rail  sector  and  for  ensuring  a  fair  deal  to  the stakeholders and customers; (vi)   Creating positive environment for investment; (vii)  Promoting efficient allocation of resources in the sector; (viii) Benchmarking  of service standards against international norms  and  specify  and  enforce  standards  with  respect  to  the quality, continuity and reliability of services provided by them; (ix) Providing framework for non-discriminatory open access to the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) infrastructure and others in future; (x)  Measures  to  absorb  new  technologies  for  achieving  desired efficiency and performance standards; and (xi)  Measures  for  human  resource  development to achieve any of its stated objectives.

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