The Indian Railways invited several private companies to run 151 passenger trains on 109 train routes in June 2020. The government of India expects a private investment of 30000 crores in this move. It was then announced that the private trains will start in April of 2023.
India’s first private train inaugurated in October 2019 is the Tejas Express which runs from Lucknow to New Delhi.
The government puts forth that private investment will help in the modernization of railways. It will provide more safety in trains and give us access to better facilities. Now, it’s the government’s responsibility to regulate and fix the prices to make them affordable. Also, the upgradation of the other trains must be carried out side by side to maintain parity.
The Benefits of private trains.
The transfer of responsibilities to private firms creates a win-win situation for all. A developing country with limited investment always gives more priority to the welfare of its citizens.
Private trains will provide a world-class experience to their passengers. They will use modern technologies and require low maintenance.
Furthermore, the government of India announced that these trains will be manufactured in India under the scheme Make in India. This will create numerous jobs which will help uplift the country’s economy.
The Challenges to Private trains
The launch of private trains will further increase the already existing social gap between the rich and the poor. It is confirmed that these train fares will be in the range of flight tickets. Presently, the middle class will not be able to afford these trains and will be excluded.
Moreover, modern technologies will lead to several jobs becoming redundant. Hence, private trains will not provide as many jobs as government trains. Also, if India fails to manufacture parts itself, it has to import equipment and coaches. This will lead to huge losses for India.
