14 cos bid for rail freight services

In a massive response to Railways efforts to privatise its container operations, as many as 14 major firms have bid for running freight services.

In a massive response to Indian Railways efforts to privatise its container operations, as many as 14 major firms including Reliance Industries and Central Warehousing Corporation have bid for running freight train services across the country.

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Bidders have submitted a total of Rs 540 crore as registration fee for running freight trains, including those on the Delhi-Mumbai route, Railway Ministry sources said.

Ten companies have applied in the Rs 50 crore category, whereas four have applied in the Rs 10 crore category, they said adding that the sector was likely to see as much as Rs 10,000 crore investment in rolling stock, inland container depot (ICD) and Container freight stations (CFS) over the next two years.

The Rs 50 crore bidders included Gateway District Park Limited, Reliance Infrastructure Leasing, Mumbai, Hind Terminals, MICT (P and O Port), Indian Infrastructure and Leasing, Mumbai, Adani Logistic, Dinesh/Emirates (ETA), Sical Logistic, Chennai, Central Warehousing Corporation and Container Corporation of India.

Bidders in the Rs 10 crore category included Delhi-Assam Raodways Corporation Limited, Bothra Shipping, JM Baxi and Company and Pipavav Rail Colrporation Limited (PRCL), they said.