There are major developments taking place in the Railway Ministry as it plans to introduce the concept of private players in the railways to boost connectivity and revenue. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has made it clear that the focus is on completing existing projects on time, one of which is a massive Rs 7,000 crore project to connect Marathwada to port facilities.
As part of the plan to improve connectivity, Marathwada will get access to ports through the Mumbai-Nagpur-Aurangabad-Marathwada rail line, which will not only help increase businesses in the region but will also generate more revenue for the railway Ministry.
Currently, Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world. This move towards private investment aims to revolutionize the functioning of the network. As per the plan, the proposed route is expected to cover a stretch of over 500 kilometers and will have several halts in between.
As part of this development, Indian Railways is also looking at welcoming private players into the network. There have been reports suggesting that 12 high-speed routes are going to be auctioned out to private companies. This would mean that private companies will have the right to develop infrastructure, maintain and own the high-speed trains as well as develop the stations along the route.
Additionally, the main goal behind this massive project is to decongest traffic from mainlines and improve connectivity in the region, resulting in lower transportation costs. As per Indian Railways' plan, the Marathwada line is going to be a game-changer for businesses in the region and will help bring more investment opportunities to Marathwada.