NEW DELHI: Riding high on the turnaround euphoria, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad is expected to announce a slew of measures for upgrading passenger amenities, modernisation of major stations, encouraging the concept of Public Private Participation (PPP) in various sectors, including running of container trains and impetus to the gauge conversion project across the country.

Mr. Prasad, who would present his fourth consecutive Railway Budget on Monday, is also likely to announce a big thrust to the concept of `Garib Rath,' the poor man's air-conditioned train. Four Garib Raths are operating now. They run from Delhi to Saharsa and Patna in Bihar, Amritsar, Mumbai and Chennai.

Having done without any hike of fares in the previous three budgets, Mr. Prasad is expected to go in for more amenities and their upgradation for the travelling public.

The budget would also witness incentives for the farmers in the shape of opening of `agro outlets' across various railway stations, more Inland Container Depots, construction of warehouses and logistics parks in partnership with private players.

"The idea to open agricultural outlets at railway stations is to allow the farmers to directly sell their produce at a higher price and avoid middleman," a senior official remarked.

Other passenger amenities could include upgradation of waiting area facilities, opening of fast food outlets at railway stations to provide more and better options to passengers, installation of ATMs and allowing booking of railway tickets through various outlets including ATMs of credit card companies.

The major focus could be on encouraging the PPP model in the running of container trains, port connectivity works, outsouring of non-core activities, computerisation of train enquiries on the lines of call centres, new budget hotels and food plazas.

As a roadmap had been drawn to make Indian Railways one of the best in the world by 2012, the role of the private sector in major operations could increase substantially.

At the same time, Mr. Prasad has made it absolutely clear that he does not intend to privatise any of the core activities or the operations of the Railways and everything would be done with a human face. The Railways could also involve the private players in the construction of the dedicated freight corridors or announce formation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to handle this prestigious project.

Similarly, modernisation of assets, gauge conversion and doubling and port connectivity works could also witness more PPP involvement. "The Railways plans to implement the modernisation programme during the next five years at an estimated cost of Rs.3,00,000 crore out of which 40 per cent is proposed to come through the PPP route. This indicates a big thrust to the PPP concept and it is all set to take off in a major way in this budget," another Railway official stated.

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