Railways to set up infra planning panel

The railway ministry has decided to constitute a high-powered committee to deal with infrastructure planning, business development and monitoring of projects. The ministry is also setting up a public-private partnership implementation cell to be headed by railway board chairman S S Khurana. The high-powered committee will be headed by Shri Prakash, member (traffic), who is set to retire by the end of this month. It will have two part-time members.

“The committee will identify business opportunities and assist the ministry of railways in implementing and developing new strategies to improve market shares in existing business segments,” said an internal rail ministry circular.

The committee will be looking at infrastructure development on both short-term as well as long-term basis. According to the circular, “it will suggest strategic directions for immediate (next year) and long term (up to 2020) periods in terms of infrastructure, technology and business strategy.”

The committee will also assist the railways in speedy implementation of the dedicated freight corridor project and advise the ministry on the implementation of public-private partnership projects.

The committee has also been entrusted with suggesting measures to fast track implementation of high priority and quick payback projects. As per ministry officials, the tenure of the committee will be for a period of two years from the date of the chairman taking charge. The terms and conditions to be applied to the chairman and members of the committee will follow soon.

Another committee, serving as an interface between the railways and industry, has already been formed. One of its key recommendations of late has been the setting up of auto hubs. In line with its recommendations, the ministry has lined up 15 auto hubs in the country.