2NDLD RAIL 3 LAST

Railways will run a special exhibition train across the
country to mark the Commonwealth Games to be held here apart
from being the lead partner of the mega sporting event from
October 3 to 14.
"Indian Railways will be the lead partner of the
Commonwealth Games being hosted by India this year. To mark
this event and also to spread the message, Railways proposes
to start a Commonwealth exhibition train," Banerjee said.
In her media briefing after the budget presentation,
Banerjee denied the Railways was resorting to privatisation.
She, however, said, "(If) You want to earn more money you have
to go for commercial utilisation of land and creation of
infrastructure."
She said the Railways would need a business model for the
same and she would seek support from India's Prime Minister
and Planning Commission for it.
Later in the day, Indian Railway Board Chairman S S
Khurana told reporters that private sector participation was
welcome in laying of new lines for transportation of iron ore
and coal,the main revenue stream for the Railways.
"We can build business model" for such ventures, he said,
adding Railways attracted Rs 4,462 crore through private
participation last year.
He was replying to a question on how Railway propose to
meet the target of 1,000 km when it is only able to lay 180 to
200 km of railway track annually. PTI