Indian Railways Planning To Auction Stations To Private Players After Modernising Them

Adding another booster to the ongoing transformation of the Indian Railways, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday (20 July) that the Government was planning to auction railway stations to private players after modernising them, reports Economic Times.

This comes as the Government is already pushing for the redevelopment of a score of railway stations in prime cities to those of world-class status with the involvement of private players under PPP mode.

Also, the Indian Railways is going all out to bid out over 109 routes for the operation of 151 private passenger trains with top-notch facilities, which will help the Railways generate further resources while giving the passengers better experience and comforts.

Meanwhile, sharing the progress on the completion of two dedicated freight corridors, Goyal shared that the project will need to be speeded up given it has suffered delays due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Goyal also groused about how the entire quantum of land needed for the project in West Bengal is still to be handed over to the Railways' special purpose vehicle by Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee-led State Government.