The Hindu Business Line : Rail freight corridor may be jointly owned by Rlys, port trusts, PSU clients

The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, with Advisor, Mr G. Haldea, in the Capital on Monday releasing the report for public-private partnership in highways. - Kamal Narang

New Delhi , Dec. 12

THE proposed dedicated rail freight corridor may be jointly owned by Railways, its major PSU clients like SAIL and those from mining, oil sectors and various port trusts.

Speaking at a conference here on Monday, Mr Anwar-ul-Huda, Member, Planning Commission said, "We are working on the organisational structure of the dedicated freight corridor. Hopefully, there may be some decision next week on this."

One of the views is that the organisation should be a different entity, independent of Railways, said Mr Huda. However, Railways would be a major partner in it, he added. Then there are ownership issues building and maintaining of infrastructure and running of trains on the corridor.

"The railway freight corridor is making progress. We hope to reach an agreement with the Japanese agency very soon," said Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Privatising container operations: On the policy that would allow private players to run containerised operations, Mr Ahluwalia said, "The draft report is expected to be finalised in a month." It would then be taken up in an inter-ministerial group headed by the Railways.

"It can then be taken up in the Prime Minister's Committee on Infrastructure," he added.

Moreover, the Planning Commission also officially released the new model concession agreement for public private partnership projects in highways. "The agreement was approved recently."

Most of the new highway projects awarded by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) would be based on the agreement. "There will always be variations within the frame of the document based on projects.

If the changes are not substantial, then they may be reviewed by the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee, chaired by the Secretary, Economic Affairs.

The committee would have Secretaries of Planning Commission and the concerned department as members. If the changes are substantial, it may be referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs," said Mr Gajendra Haldea, Adviser to the Planning Commission.

Those projects that have been awarded by the NHAI would be based on the old agreement.

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Rail freight corridor may be jointly owned by Rlys, port trusts, PSU clients