The Ministry of Railways previously started a plan to let private companies run passenger trains on its network. This process began on July 1, 2020, to bring in modern trains and better efficiency. The goal was to introduce 151 new trains across 109 different routes.
What was the plan for private trains?
The government divided 109 route pairs into 12 clusters. They expected a total investment of about ₹30,000 crore from private players. NITI Aayog and the Railway Ministry wanted this partnership to improve the quality of travel and operational efficiency.
Which companies were involved in the bidding?
Many big names showed interest in this project. These included global firms and Indian companies. The details are listed below:
| Global Companies | Indian Companies |
|---|---|
| Bombardier | L&T |
| Alstom | GMR |
| Siemens | Adani |
| – | IRCTC |
| – | Tata |
What happened to the project?
The Ministry of Railways eventually called off the tender for these 151 trains. This happened because very few private companies participated in the final financial bidding stage. Only IRCTC and Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited showed active interest, leading the government to re-evaluate the process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many private trains were planned for the 109 routes?
The Ministry of Railways planned to introduce 151 modern passenger trains across 109 origin-destination route pairs.
Why was the private train tender cancelled?
The tender was called off due to a tepid response from private firms, with only two bidders participating in the financial stage.