'PPP railway projects a policy deviation'

Referring to the Public Private Partnership options being explored by the Railways in areas such as port connectivity and production units, the parliamentary standing committee said: “The committee apprehends that this is a major policy deviation on the part of the Railways, which until now has been maintaining itself as an exclusive public domain.”

It added: “The committee is of the view that the Railways is entering into the PPP without a well thought out policy and without assessing as to how much public-private partnership will bring resources and technology.”

Maintaining that the interests of the Railways should be safeguarded, the committee said the core sectors should not be brought under the PPP.