Things you need to know about Railway privatisation in India 2022-2023
Things you need to know about Railway privatisation in India 2022-2023
Sweekriti
Southasia24×7
Bengaluru
How will it work?
Indian railways have invited private operators to run train on its network. The proposal is to run 151 modern trains on 109 routes. Private firms will have the power to decide stoppages and fare. The trains will start operations by April 2023.
Tejas Express is first private train by IRCTC running on Indian railways network. It was first inaugurated on 24th May 2017 from Mumbai to Goa.
Will private sector be helpful?
Piyush Goyal have earlier stressed on the fact that private sector support will help end the ‘era of slow- moving trains’. Although the plan to modernize railways still looks unplanned. But in the upcoming years we can hope for better quality services in railways too.
Challenges
Private trains running will lead to high fare price. Railways have often been the saviour of poor and have supported their basic rights to travel. Also the public-private partnership can lead to priority changes as for example which train leads first if there is a delay and the route is not free.
An independent regulator is needed for private trains, not just to manage operations and timings but also to solve disputes between railways and private entities.Getting accustom to each other will also be a task in the near years.
Companies that have shown interest in running private trains in Indian railways network are top companies including Tatas, Adani Group, Alstom and Norwegian Cruise Line. Let’s hope that the privatisation in railways succeed and doesn’t replicate our aviation.
As of now only 5% of the entire operation will be run by private entities and 95% will still remain with the government.
But eveyone know that india railway is playing dominant role in massive transportation of goods and passengers across major states and earning millions dollars and providings employments.
