Indian Railways is working on a plan to allow private freight terminals (PFTs) on railway sites adjacent to stations, to make better use of empty land plots, increase investment in public-private partnerships (PPPs) and increase freight revenues. The commercial viability of private terminals is closer to cement companies, ports and power plants that consume coal. Currently, private freight terminals are built by private investors on private land and the connection is provided by the operators on a located rail basis. The carrier believes that PFTs on railway land would help reduce interference in its country, apart from increasing revenue through royalties. Under this program, investors are building storage warehouses on land adjacent to stations and the railways will earn rents. The carrier will also impose charges for rail lines to warehouses, as commercial exploitation of the land is necessary. Indian Railways is working on a plan to allow private freight terminals (PFTs) on railway sites adjacent to stations, to make better use of empty land plots, increase investment in public-private partnerships (PPPs) and increase freight revenues. „There is land around the stations, especially in areas rich in minerals and where the load is high. They are also snimly populated areas. We are trying to allow private connections of freight tracks on land adjacent to stations,“ a Railway Ministry official said.
The commercial viability of private terminals is closer to cement companies, ports and power plants that consume coal. The sources said the commercial use of the land required the agreement of the cabinet, Goyal asked that consideration be given to a policy of integrating the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) into the process. „RLDA will check the availability of land and give permission,“ the official said, adding that applicants will apply at the zonal level, with a feasibility report with traffic forecasts before a final clearance.