50-70 railway projects in 60 days
The Railway Ministry is preparing a roadmap for execution of around 50-70 mega PPP railways projects in the next five years, for which necessary consultation process would be finalised in the next 60 days.
Addressing a PHD Rail Infrastructure Summit2014 under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Delhi, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha announced that the identified projects would be shortly put on the website of the Ministry of Railways, with all details and deadlines.
The minister elaborated that the consultation process has already had the participation of top polity of the present government, including its railways Minister Dr Suresh Prabhu and the Railway Board Chairman. He further asked industry associations like PHD Chamber to make its contribution and provide suggestions so that the projects would be industry-friendly.
Sinha also said that the successive Railway Budget would be prepared to serve the government’s intention of executing mega railways projects under its five-year agenda plan, and to push the consultation process so that the execution is not delayed, and cost escalations arising out of normal delays in such projects are prevented for good.
The Minister explained that the new Modi government was committed to revive the PPP mode projects to uplift the face of Railways and meet modern requirements.
The Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar, in his address, said that the future focus of the infrastructure projects of railways would be through PPP mode but in addition to it, CMD, Rail Vikas Nigam, Satish Chandra Agnihotri in his remarks observed that the new government had prepared to lay a railway line between Rishikesh and Karnprayag in Uttarakhand to connect the holy shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath to the mainstream railway line. In his welcome remark, the President, PHD Chamber, Sharad Jaipuria said, “At present, the Indian Railways is taking many new initiatives led by the new government at the Centre: like faster decision making, clearances and a better policy envi-
Dignitaries at the Rail Infrastructure Summit-2014 ronment for global and domestic corporate.”
Senior Vice President of the Chamber, Alok B Shriram, also said that the initiatives taken by Railways for its overall development and modernisation were opportunities that should be given a huge push. The Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of Belguim, Jan Luykx, Chairman Railways Committee, PHD Chamber, Sandeep Aggarwal and its Executive Director, Saurabh Sanyal were also present on the occassion.