Lok Sabha Question No. 581 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Privatisation of Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 581

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020

## PRIVATISATION OF RAILWAYS

## 581. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  hand  over  the  long  distance train services to the Private Sector in the Country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  details  of  the  services,  routewise and the name of companies to whom such services are likely to be allocated;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  estimated  an  income  that  is  to  be generated through the Privatization of railways;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government is aware of the status of electrification work in Kollam to Punalur Section in Southern Railway Madurai division;
- (f) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  allotted  amount  to  said  work  and expected time for completion of the same; and,
- (g) whether the Government is intending to introduce local train services in KollamMadurai  section after the declaration of unlock 4 by the Government of India and if so, the details thereof ?

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  to  (d)  No,  Sir.  It  is  estimated  that  Indian  Railways  would  need  Capital investment  of  around ₹ 50  lakh  crore  upto  2030  for  network  expansion  and capacity augmentation, rolling stock induction and other modernization works to  enable better delivery of passenger and freight services and to improve its modal  share  in  transport.  To  bridge  the  gap  in  capital  funding  and  to  induct modern technologies and improve efficiencies, it is being planned to use Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for few initiatives. One of the PPP initiatives is to invite applications to invest and induct modern rakes over select routes to provide  world  class  services  to  the  passengers.  As  part  of  this  initiative, Ministry  of  Railways  have  issued  12  Requests  for  Qualification  (RFQs)  on  1 st July,  2020  for  operation  of  passenger  trains  over  approximately  109  origindestination  pairs  (divided  into  12  clusters)  through  PPP  on  Design,  Build, Finance and Operate ('DBFO') basis.  The routes are spread across the entire Indian  Railway  network  and  the  list  is  available  in  the  public  domain  namely, http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/IndicativeRoutesfor12clusters.pdf. The details of the participants will be known after the application due date, i.e. 07.10.2020. The selection of the operators will be done through a transparent bidding process and  so  far,  no  passenger  train  service  has  been  allocated  to  any  private company.  The  revenue  which  shall  be  generated  under  this  initiative  can  be estimated upon the completion of the bidding process. (e)  &  (f)  Electrification  of  Kollam  -  Punalur  Section  is  already  sanctioned  and planned for commissioning during 2021-22. ₹ 20 crores have been allocated for this work during 2020-21. (g)  In  view  of  the  ongoing  COVID-19  pandemic,  Indian  Railways  are  presently operating  limited  special  trains,  taking  into  consideration  the  concerns  and suggestions  of  the  State  Governments.  At  present,  there  is  no  immediate proposal to re-introduce train services between Kollam and Madurai. However, re-introduction of services is a gradual process keeping in view the suggestions and requests of State Governments.

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