IDS,

Thanks for sharing this. Will get back after reading thru it.

• favorite 74 Likes
• | login or register to post comments

 Railways new policy on PPP can be read here:

http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/indianrailways/directorate/planning/downloads/R3i_circular_new.pdf

• favorite 66 Likes
• | login or register to post comments

Thammu, thanks for sharing. But right on the first page of the new policy, you read this:

The primary objective of this policy is to retain and increase rail share in freight traffic.

Further, focus seems to be new lines only.

Only those new line proposals which are 20 kms or more in length (excluding the length of siding which may take off from this line) shall be eligible under this policy

For CRS, the core idea is to reuse existing lines. Not sure if augmenting them (extra tracks) will be covered.

Regardless, the section describing SPV model is an interesting read, for this is how a future circular allowing commuter rail SPVs in large cities (that's what we want) could look:

An SPV shall be formed between railways and the applicant and railways share in equity will generally be 26%.

Notice operate and maintain below:

SPV shall be granted a concession to construct, operate and maintain the line and in consideration there of, it shall be granted a share in the revenue generated on the project line.

But then it says this to confuse (O&M = operate & maintain) us:

6.5 O&M shall be undertaken for the SPV by the railways for which SPV shall reimburse the costs.

Anyway. Lets wait. We are told things ar emoving favorably at Rail bhavan for commuter rail.

• favorite 79 Likes
• | login or register to post comments

 Some of the lines touching B'lore are supposed to be having the highest traffic density in Indian Railway. Tumkur line for instance. So utilising the existing tracks for  CRS looks doubtful. Hyderabad tried the same approach, but failed. Dedicated corridor is a must, I believe.

• favorite 70 Likes
• | login or register to post comments

Some of the lines touching B'lore are supposed to be having the highest traffic density in Indian Railway. Tumkur line for instance.

What are the number of trains per hour on the Tumkur line?

Hyderabad tried the same approach, but failed.

Which line in hyderabad was tried and failed? 

• favorite 71 Likes
• | login or register to post comments

 Hyderabad EMU's are running on the existing line between Hyderabad - Falaknuma - Hi Tech city after electrification. But due to existing traffic, the frequency of the service is not assured. Thereby a commuter is not able to just walk in and catch a local. Thus the traffic projected in the original plan could never be achieved. Bus connectivity (last mile) is also one of the problem here. The traffic has definitely picked up and more rakes are ordered but it is no where near projection.

• favorite 64 Likes
• | login or register to post comments

Hyderabad EMU's are running on the existing line between Hyderabad - Falaknuma - Hi Tech city after electrification.

If running more than ONE dedicated commuter EMU on existing tracks are considered failure I am all for it. We have requested for skeletal service (means more than one) during peak hours till we get dedicated tracks.

Do you have a numbers to compare this with the Tumkur line? As far as I know atleast 80 dedicated trips are being done on the existing tracks itself in Hyderabad.

Thus the traffic projected in the original plan could never be achieved.

To substantiate this statement, what is the traffic projected in the original plan and what is the current ridership in Hyderabad?

• favorite 66 Likes
• | login or register to post comments

The primary objective of this policy is to retain and increase rail share in freight traffic

I feel like Railway is trying to avoid passenger traffic and concentrate on freight traffic.

• favorite 69 Likes
• | login or register to post comments