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Privatization of Trains – Group of Secretaries (GoS) with a term of one year inter-alia to permit private passenger train operators to operate trains with world class technology over Indian Railways Network

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 478
ANSWERED ON: 20.11.2019

Privatization of Trains

478. SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:
SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:
DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI:
SHRI SUBBARAYAN K.:
SHRI HARISH DWIVEDI:
SHRI A. RAJA:
SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:
SHRI M. SELVARAJ:
SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:
SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

Will the Minister of

RAILWAYS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government is mulling over to allow other corporates to commence luxury rail within the country like Tejas Express;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has formed an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) to identify more routes for private train operators across the country and whether 24 potential routes have been identified;

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(d) if so, the details thereof, State/UTwise including Tamil Nadu;

(e) the time by which the Government is planning to invite bid from interested and qualified entities;

(f) whether it has been opposed in some of the States and if so, the details thereof along with Government’s stand thereon; and

(g) Whether the fares of train tickets would increase as a result of privatization and if so, whether subsidies would be retained to citizens travelling in these routes from various categories in Railway and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (g) Ministry of Railways have constituted a Group of Secretaries (GoS) with a term of one year inter-alia to permit private passenger train operators to operate trains with world class technology over Indian Railways Network, with the following broad term of reference:-

i. Approval of the bidding process along with Bid documents and

ii. Monitor the bidding process and to take decisions to ensure the award of projects in a time bound manner.

As of now, the GoS has held three meetings and as such, Modalities regarding routes, fare structure, subsidies, etc. have not been finalized. There have been a few representations from the two recognized Railway Staff Federations along with their affiliated Trade Unions and other Trade Unions in Zonal Railways about privatization of passenger trains.

Source: Lok Sabha