• The long-term strategic plan of the Ministry of Railways is to construct six high-capacity, high-speed dedicated freight corridors along the Golden Quadrilateral and its diagonals.
• The sector has taken up port connectivity on priority, through the PPP mode of funding in tandem with the Sagar Mala Project of Port Development. Railways will facilitate connectivity to new and upcoming ports through private participation. So far, in principle, approval has been granted for building rail connectivity to the Ports of Jaigarh, Dighi, Rewas, Hazira, Tuna, Dholera and Astranga under the Participative Model Policy of the Indian Railways, amounting to INR 40 Billion.
• The 2014–15 Union Budget envisages a diamond quadrilateral network of high speed rail, connecting major metros and growth centres of the country.
• The development of identified stations to international standards with modern facilities and passenger amenities on the lines of newly developed airports, through PPP mode.
• Private investment in railway logistics is to be encouraged — the IR proposes to modernize its logistics operations by setting up logistic parks that provide for warehousing, packaging, labelling, distribution, door-to-door delivery and consignment tracking in order to achieve better efficiency, mechanisation of loading and unloading will be given top priority.
• A scheme for private participation in parcel movement will be launched shortly whereby procurement of parcel vans or parcel rakes by private parties will be facilitated.
• To develop a network of freight terminals, the Policy of Private Freight Terminals on the PPP model is being further refined.
• A proposal is in place to harness solar energy by utilizing rooftop spaces of railway stations, other railway buildings and land, through the PPP mode.
• During the period of 2012-17, Mass Rapid Transit Systems (MRTS) projects are being planned in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Patna, Pune, Lucknow and Surat through the PPP model.
• The share of private investment in MRTS projects is expected to increase from 13% during 2007-12 to 42% during 2012-17.
• Rail tourism is on the anvil, with emphasis on the introduction of eco-tourism and education tourism in the North-eastern states, the identification of special pilgrim circuits such as the Devi Circuit, the Jyotirling Circuit, the Jain Circuit, the Christian Circuit, the Sufi Circuit, the Sikh Circuit, the Buddhist Circuit, and the Temple Circuit. Specially packaged trains for these circuits have been proposed and private participation will be encouraged.

FDI POLICY