Railways ministry to follow highway model for track laying

The Mamata Banerjee-led railways ministry is likely to focus on infrastructure development in the Rail Budget this month.

The initiative has perhaps been triggered by the observation made by the prime minister’s Office (PMO) on slow pace of rail infrastructure development.

Sources said Banerjee is likely to announce a mega public-private partnership (PPP) push in the track laying sector on the highway model and is charting out a policy for that.

At a meeting with industry representatives earlier this month, Banerjee said there is a huge opportunity for the private sector in track-laying works.

“We are looking at a policy for developing tracks in participation with the private sector on a model similar to the National Highways Development Programme. The ministry is studying various models of revenue-sharing for developing tracks in private participation,” a ministry official said on the condition of anonymity.

The official did not divulge the revenue sharing models being looked at.

Meanwhile, the rail ministry has charted out ambitious targets for track-laying in the next ten years.

The ministry is planning to add 25,000 km of new lines in the next ten years.

Of this, at least 10,000 km will be socially desirable lines regardless of their viability in the short run.

The plans specifically aim at connecting far-flung areas of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and all the states in the North East. Interestingly, Indian Railways inherited 53,996 km network in 1947, but has added only 10,000 km of lines at 64,099 km in the last 62 years. Additionally, more than 30,000 km will be double/multiple lines compared with around 18,000 km today.

Of this, more than 6000 km will be quadrupled lines with separate passenger and freight services. With the new lines in place, maximum speed of the trains will go up from 110 kmph to 130 kmph.

Similarly in case of the freight trains, maximum speed will go up from 60-70 kmph to 100 kmph.  The railways, meanwhile has tried its hand on models to invite private participation in development of rail sidings (tracks connecting industries, plants to main line), as mainline tracks to tap the upcoming freight potential in the areas that do not have rail connectivity.

The models allow the private players to develop the tracks on their own, and avail an opportunity of freight rebate on traffic commitment, thereby enabling them to redeem their initial investment over a period of time.

The scheme was initiated on a pilot basis in 2008. It was, however, meant only for cement fertilizer, food grain and not for coal and iron ore traffic.