Question : PRIVATISATION OF RAILWAY SECTOR

(a) whether Railways have any plan to privatise the railway facilities provided to the passengers due to heavy losses suffered;

(b) if so, whether the privatisation would make it costlier for lower income groups in the country;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Railway Unions have made their resentments in this regard;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether Railways have also any proposal to operate trains such as Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi or Starting better trains on viable routes and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Railways in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a): There are no plans to privatise the railway facilities provided to the passengers. However, outsourcing of certain facilities like cleaning, parking, ticketing etc. is done on a need based manner to improve efficiency.

(b) & (c): Do not arise.

(d) & (e): The two recognized Staff Federations i.e. All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) and National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) have opposed any move to privatise Rail Sector.

(f): Introduction of new train services including Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains is an ongoing process on Indian Railways subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility and availability of resources etc. In the Rail Budget 2014-15, introduction of 22 pairs of Premium Express, 8 pairs of AC Express and 1 pair of Shatabdi Express has been announced.