150 trains, 50 Railway stations to be privatized soon
New Delhi : The government is in the process of forming a panel who will look after the blueprints for handing over operations of 150 trains and 50 railway stations to private operators in a "time-bound manner".
According to a letter by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant to Chairman Railway Board VK Yadav, a panel will be constituted to look after the process.
Amitabh Kant also mentioned that there was a plan of taking up 400 Railway stations for development into world class stations, very few have been upgraded so far.
"I had a detailed discussion with the Minister of Railways wherein it was decided that there is a necessity to take up the matter on priority for at least 50 stations. Considering the recent experience in privatisation of six airports a similar process for setting up an empowered group of secretaries to drive the process in a time bound manner," he said.
"As you are already aware that the ministry of railways has also decided to bring in private train operators for passenger train operations and is contemplating to take up 150 trains in the first phase," Kant said.
On August 4, India's first privately operated Tejas Express was flagged off on Lucknow-Delhi route.
IRCTC has a slew of benefits worked out for its passengers - combination meals, free insurance of up to Rs. 25 lakh and compensation in case of delays.
