Railways open container biz to pvt sector

Indian Railways today permitted private players to run container trains for both import and export and domestic traffic.

"We have decided to permit private parties to run container trains for both import and export and domestic traffic," railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said today.

Announcing the new container policy, he said permission can be given to all companies/firms/individuals registered in India with an annual turnover or net worth of Rs 100 crore or more.

Giving details about the new container policy, the minister said an aplicant should either have a rail-linked ICD or give an assurance that he will construct his own rail-linked ICD (in three years) within six months of making his aplication or furnish a lease agreement with an existing rail-linked ICD owner.

The process of registration and the policy of container train movement will be uniformly applicable to all applicants including Concor, he said, adding "all companies will be given a level-playing field without any discrimination."

While Indian Railways will provide engines and drivers, the applicant will have to provide bogies and procure its own rolling stock required for the movement of container trains, the minister said.

He added that containerised import-export traffic in India is growing at 15-20% per annum, and the volume is expected to increase to 110 million tonne from the current 55 million tonne over the next five years.

"In a vast country like India, there are possibilities of significant development in domestic container traffic. Presently, railways has one-third share of the local domestic traffic of about 2,000 million tonne," the minister said.