Pvt cos may get ticket to run metro rail networks
The government has proposed amending the Delhi Metro Operation & Maintenance Act that would pave way for private metro rail services in the country.
By Rajat Guha, ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: Private companies may be allowed to run, operate and own metro rail networks. The government has proposed amending the Delhi Metro Operation & Maintenance Act that would pave way for private metro rail services in the country.
���A Cabinet note proposing changes to the Act has been moved by the urban development ministry. Effectively, private operations of metro rails would be allowed,��� a source in the government said.
According to senior officials in the urban development ministry, Railways��� nod is mandatory before initiating a change in the Act. If the proposal goes through, private companies would start their metro rail operations on the lines of airline industry.
According to the proposed law, the interested players would have to maintain and operate their metro lines. The successful bidder would also have to finance, design, construct civil works, procure, install all systems including rolling stock, electrification, track, signalling and telecommunication, ventilation and airconditioning, automatic fare collection, depot and other systems.
All metro projects in the country follow provisions of the Act. Players like Reliance Infrastructure, Bombardier and Siemens can benefit from the move. As of now, they are running metro rails on public-private partnership (PPP) model. Realty major DLF has proposed to run feeder service of 4 km in Gurgaon to connect its township to the upcoming Gurgaon leg of Delhi Metro, which is a non-profit venture.
Reliance Infrastructure, in partnership with Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), has started work on the 11-km metro line connecting Versova and Ghatkopar. Similarly, last year, the company bagged Delhi Metro���s express link project for connecting Indira Gandhi International airport and the central business district of New Delhi.
���A Cabinet note proposing changes to the Act has been moved by the urban development ministry. Effectively, private operations of metro rails would be allowed,��� a source in the government said.
According to senior officials in the urban development ministry, Railways��� nod is mandatory before initiating a change in the Act. If the proposal goes through, private companies would start their metro rail operations on the lines of airline industry.
According to the proposed law, the interested players would have to maintain and operate their metro lines. The successful bidder would also have to finance, design, construct civil works, procure, install all systems including rolling stock, electrification, track, signalling and telecommunication, ventilation and airconditioning, automatic fare collection, depot and other systems.
All metro projects in the country follow provisions of the Act. Players like Reliance Infrastructure, Bombardier and Siemens can benefit from the move. As of now, they are running metro rails on public-private partnership (PPP) model. Realty major DLF has proposed to run feeder service of 4 km in Gurgaon to connect its township to the upcoming Gurgaon leg of Delhi Metro, which is a non-profit venture.
Reliance Infrastructure, in partnership with Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), has started work on the 11-km metro line connecting Versova and Ghatkopar. Similarly, last year, the company bagged Delhi Metro���s express link project for connecting Indira Gandhi International airport and the central business district of New Delhi.
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