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Railways to increase private sector role in new projects

The Ministry of Railways is chalking out various plans and programmes for seeking private sector participation for the improvement of railways.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the ministry is open to discuss these issues with all chambers of commerce, and with individual corporate entities.

One private party from Gujarat has evinced keen interest towards the beautification and maintenance of railway stations in Gujarat and West Bengal.

Saying that this is a good step, she hoped that similar offers would pour in for other states also.

The railway minister said since railway is the national property, people should be involved in its maintenance and proper protection. In that direction railway school students for the first time would be launching a mass awarness campaign from November 4 to 14, by asking people to help the authorities in its protection and maintenance. All the participating students will be presented with a memento.

The railway minister disclosed that to commemorate the birth anniversary of late Abdul Kalam Azad, she will be flaging off the Shalimar-Haldia train in West Bengal. Similarly, to celebrate the birth anniversary of late Jawahar Lal Nehru on November 14, a new train between Ujjain-Gwalior will be introduced, she added.

She disclosed that in order to materialise pending railway projects in West Bengal, she has invited the state urban development minister Subash Chackraborty to New Delhi on November 2 so that the railways could get the necessary land for those pending projects.

UNI

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