Another rail panel to examine PPP model

Railways have formed another high-level committee on PPP projects, which would review the recommendations of a previous committee set up to rework the PPP model.

The high-level committee comprising five senior railway officials would examine threadbare the report of the six-member committee that was submitted on February 7, railway sources said.

However, the railways said that nothing much should be read into the formation of the new committee as it is customary to set up an 'appreciation committee' to look into the recomemdations before it is presented to the Railway Board.

The committee has been given five days to submit its report.

"The report is expected to be submitted by coming Monday," the sources said.

Railways on January 22 constituted a six-member committee to formulate a policy document on suitable bidding process and to go through the guidelines laid down in the general financial rules and PPP related instructions of the Finance Ministry and Planning Commission.

The status of the proposed world class stations, the locomotive manufacturing units and several big ticket projects are expected to become clearer once the suggestion of the committee is approved.

These projects have created a lot of interest among international bidders, with the Kanchrapara project in West Bengal attracting the maximum of eight players, including American giant GE.

Several other western companies like EMD, Bombardier are also in the fray for Madhepura and Marhora locomotive projects in Bihar. Railways have maintained that till now, no PPP project of this magnitude has been undertaken in the world.

"These are huge projects, so due diligence is required," Railway Board chairman Vivek Sahai had earlier said.

He said several bidders had sought changes in bidding documents which prompted the Railways to set up the committee.