Privatisation to the rescue: But will it work? Here's how it can be made to

The Modi govt is strong enough to override the resistance that has come from some quarters, but it should be mindful of reputation risks in decisions on complex financial questions, writes T N Ninan

The idea of the moment is privatisation. Railway stations and trains, airports, the Container Corporation, Shipping Corporation, completed highway projects, Air India, Bharat Petroleum — all of them and more are to be put on the block. And we’re talking not disinvestment but real privatisation, with change of control — last delivered by Arun Shourie in the Vajpayee government. Narendra Modi, it would seem, is finally going to act on his stated position that the business of the government is not business.
 
There may be other motivations. For instance, to rebuild the government’s reputation for positive action, since the