Railways weaves development model through corporate hands!

Zee Research Group

Railway infrastructure, safety, passenger amenities, and fiscal discipline were the key areas majorly addressed by Rail Minister Sadananda Gowda in the Railway Budget 2014-15. Zee Research Group (ZRG) has listed various companies which are the beneficiaries of the budgetary announcements. Cabinet approval for FDI in railways except railway operations would be sought: Raising FDI in railways is a positive move for the entire sector. Beneficiaries: Titagarh Wagons, Texmaco Rail, and Kalindee Rail Nirman CCTV to be installed at major stations: CCTV to monitor cleanliness activities. Beneficiary: Zicom Security Systems which has products like Fire Alarm, Fire Extinguishers, CCTV, Bomb Detection, Burglar Alarm, Access Control, etc, in its portfolio. Outsource cleaning activities: Budget allocation for cleanliness in the current year has been increased by 40 per cent over the previous year. The Indian Railways proposes to outsource cleaning activities at 50 major stations to professional agencies and to set up a separate Housekeeping Wing to have focused attention and exclusive responsibility of maintaining cleanliness and sanitation at stations. Beneficiary: A2Z Maintenance & Engineering Services Allocation for track renewals: It is estimated that over Rs 40,000 crore would be needed to be invested in track renewals, elimination of unmanned level crossing etc. Beneficiaries: Era Infra, Kalindee Rail Nirman, MBL Infra, L&T etc. Allocation for construction of road under bridges and over bridges: A provision of Rs 1,785 crore has been made in this Budget. Beneficiary: Lanco Infra Safety Devices: The Budget has proposed introduction of advance technology for rail-flaw detection to check causes of accidents. Beneficiaries: Kernex Microsystems, Integra Hindustan Controls. Further, focus on passenger/rail safety with Ultrasonic system to detect problem in track. Beneficiary: Siemens India Development of Stations: Identified stations will be developed to international standards with modern facilities on lines of newly developed airports through PPP mode. Beneficiaries: Era Infra, Gammon India, NCC, Simplex Infrastructures, Unity Infra. Proposal to start Bullet trains: In a bid to modernise Indian Railway network, Bullet train has been proposed on Mumbai-Ahmadabad sector besides increasing speed of trains to 160-200 kmph in select 9 sectors. The minister has allocated Rs 100 crore for high-speed railway network. Beneficiary: Alstom India E-ticketing system to be improved: The Indian Railways will improve the system capabilities in e-ticketing to support 7,200 tickets per minute as against 2,000 tickets per minute and allow 1,20,000 simultaneous users at any point in time. Beneficiary: CMC Wagon-leasing market will be encouraged: Online registration of demands for wagons will be introduced within next two months. Beneficiaries: Titagarh Wagon, Texmaco Rail Bulk of future projects will be financed through PPP mode: The PPP mode would be used in order to maintain the financial viability of the project.Beneficiary: L&T, Siemens