New Delhi, Dec 5 (Agency) While tourism would be a new growth segment for Indian Railways, the national transporter is changing its wagon designs to add more features to its overall cargo basket. Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw invited private sector to join the tourism bandwagon and said that modern train sets with air cushions are being designed and will be rolled out at the end of next year. For reducing cargo costs, the Minister said, it is important to raise the share of freight carried by the Railways. For this, the Ministry is working on stepping up investment in new tracks, capacity, and other infrastructure.
The Railways is working on a hybrid BOT (build, operate, transfer) model for greater private sector participation, he added. Vaishnaw stated that the Railway Ministry’s focus is on improving the passenger experience through world-class railway stations. He noted that spending on new lines, doubling of tracks and electrification among others is on track. With the stations at Bhopal and Gandhinagar now equipped with world-class features in terms of city integration and passenger flow, 40 more stations will be tendered shortly. The EPC will be developed in a risk balanced way with as many as 20 payment points for a 3-year project, industry body CII said a press note on Saturday quoting the Minister.