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Mamuni Das

New Delhi , Jan. 7

Railtel Corporation of India Ltd is targeting a turnover of Rs 150 crore in 2007-08 against an expected turnover of over Rs 96 crore in the 2006-07 fiscal.

The increase in revenues would be driven by the national long distance and virtual private network services provided by Railtel, the Managing Director of Railtel, Mr K.K. Bajpeyee, told Business Line.

Railtel is on track to register its first net profit this fiscal. The company has already registered a net profit of Rs 5.87 crore for the first six-month period in 2006-07 as compared to a net loss of Rs 1.37 crore in 2005-06 for the same period, Mr Bajpeyee pointed out. The revenues for the six-month period in 2006-07 were at Rs 47.85 crore as against Rs 32.61 crore in the previous year, as per the un-audited results.

GSM-R-based network

The company is also considering a proposal under which it will allow mobile operators to invest in setting up a GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications-Railways)-based network along the 63,000 km Indian Railway tracks. GSM-R is a wireless technology standard developed especially for railway operations as it ensures wireless connectivity even at very high speeds.

The mobile operators can then provide closed user group wireless services to railway employees involved in various train operations and accrue rentals from Railways for the service. Nortel Networks and Siemens are the two major companies that provide GSM-R-based equipment.

"The operators can use our optical fibre network laid along the railway tracks and save on investments there," Mr Bajpeyee said.

Railtel, which had invited expressions of interest from all mobile operators till January 8, has now extended the due date by about a month.

"The proposal is at a very initial stage and we will be considering several options suggested by mobile operators before firming up anything," Mr Bajpeyee pointed out. Indian Railways is already in the process of implementing GSM-R network over 2,000 km.

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