No plans to privatize Indian Railways, which currently Employs over 11 lakh
The Ministry of Railways has confirmed that there are no plans to privatize Indian Railways, which currently employs over 11 lakh people. However, the ministry is open to investment through Public Private Partnership (PPP) schemes for network expansion, locomotive factories, freight terminals, and station development. No private sector currently operates regular passenger train services on Indian Railways.
Ministry of Railways
Posted On: 29 MAR 2023 4:26PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Railways has over 11 lakh employees
No Proposal to privatize Indian Railways – Shri Ashwani Vaishnaw
The total number of Employees in Indian Railways as on 01.02.2023 is 11,75,925.
There is no proposal to privatize the Indian Railways. However, to unleash faster development and completion of track, rolling stock manufacturing and delivery of passenger freight services, Ministry of Railways under various schemes of Public Private Partnership (PPP) attract investment in various areas viz. network expansion, setting up of locomotive factories, induction of railway wagons, station development, building freight terminals, etc. from the stake holders and strategic investors. Further, outsourcing of certain services like station cleaning, pay and use toilets, retiring rooms, parking and asset maintenance etc. is being done on need based manner to improve these services.
At present, none of the scheduled regular passenger train services over Indian Railways are being operated by private sector.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.