Private companies will be able to buy trains, with the aim of increasing the revenue of the railways

New delhi date. Wednesday 22 July 2020

It was learned that private companies would be able to buy trains and run them in different parts of the country. The decision was taken as part of increasing the surplus of the railways and thus the exchequer as the Indian Railways is currently operating at a huge loss.

Recently, the Union Railway Department convened a meeting of private companies which was attended by 16 companies from home and abroad. Among such companies were representatives of Bombardier, CAF of Spain, airport company GMR and Indian companies like BHEL.

The central government believes that the involvement of private companies will not only increase the convenience of tourists but also bring the latest technology to the country. On the other hand, there is a calculation that the revenue in the government treasury will increase. In addition to the number of trains currently running, 151 trains of private companies will be running in a short time.

The Railway Ministry clarified that private companies can buy trains as well as run them on lease. It was also clarified that the companies concerned would have to take responsibility for the risks. Risks that the company has to accept, including the safety of passengers' lives and property.

The Ministry of Railways was encouraged by the presence of 16 domestic and foreign companies and sent invitations to 12 of them on their merits. The Ministry of Railways wants to run 151 private landing trains on 109 fixed routes. The scheme is expected to generate an investment of about Rs 30,000 crore. The railway department also believes that the entry of private companies into the railways will create an environment of healthy competition.

However, millions of Indian Railways employees have already protested against the private trains and indirectly threatened to strike if necessary.