Question : INDUSTRIAL RAIL CORRIDORS

(a) whether the Railways have considered the proposal for development of the Dedicated Industrial Rail Corridor on Meramandali-Angul-Talcher-Chhendipada and Nayagarh-Keonjhar sections for providing rail connectivity to numerous industries along these sections;

(b) if so, the details and the present status thereof;

(c) whether the Railways propose to revise the R2CI policy in order to attract private investors for development of such industrial corridors; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY )

(a) & (b): There is no such proposal at present with Ministry of Railways.

(c) & (d): A fresh policy to encourage private participation in building rail connectivity for strengthening rail connectivity and capacity augmentation has been approved recently by the Cabinet. The policy envisages following five models:-

(i) Non-Government Private Line model.

(ii) Joint Venture model.

(iii) Build, Own & Transfer model.

(iv) Capacity Augmentation through funding by customers.

(v) Capacity Augmentation through competitive bidding and annuity.