Indian Railways has completed the request for qualifications (RfQ) evaluations for public private partnership (PPP) in passenger train operations project.
The Ministry of Railways (MoR) had invited RfQ for private participation in operation of passenger train services over 12 clusters comprising for more than 150 origin destination pair of routes through introduction of 151 modern trains.
This is the first major initiative of attracting private investment for running passenger trains over Indian Railway Network. The project will entail private sector investment of around Rs 30,000 crore.
The private entities for undertaking the project will be selected through a transparent two-stage competitive bidding process comprising of RfQ and request for proposal (RfP).
The RfQ for 12 clusters were published on 1 July 2020. The applications were opened on 7 October 2020, the application due date. In all 120 applications have been received for the 12 clusters, from 16 applicant firms. Out of 120 applications, 102 applications have been found eligible to participate in the RfP stage.
As many as eight applicants are qualified for participation in RfP stage for Cluster-1 (Mumbai-1). This includes - Cube Highways and Infrastructure III; consortium of Gateway Rail Freight , Gateway Distriparks; GMR Highways; Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation; IRB Infrastructure Developers; consortium of Malempati Power, Techno Infra Developers, Megha Engineering & Infrastructures; and Welspun Enterprises.
In all, 11 applicants are qualified for participation in RfP stage for Cluster-2 (Mumbai-2). This includes - consortium of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, CAF India, CAF Investment Projects; Cube Highways and Infrastructure III; consortium of Gateway Rail Freight, Gateway Distriparks; GMR Highways; Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation; IRB Infrastructure Developers; L&T Infrastructure Development Projects; consortium of Malempati Power, Techno Infra Developers, Megha Engineering & Infrastructures; consortium of R K Associates & Hoteliers, Omaxe, Welspun Enterprises.
For Cluster 3 (Delhi 1) nine applicants are qualified, including - Cube Highways and Infrastructure III; consortium of Gateway Rail Freight, Gateway Distriparks; GMR Highways; Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation; IRB Infrastructure Developers; consortium of Malempati Power, Techno Infra Developers; Megha Engineering & Infrastructures; PNC Infratech and Welspun Enterprises.
Ten applicants are qualified for participation in RfP stage for Cluster 4 (Delhi 2). This includes - Cube Highways and Infrastructure III; consortium of Gateway Rail Freight, Gateway Distriparks; GMR Highways; Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation; IRB Infrastructure Developers; consortium of Malempati Power, Techno Infra Developers; Megha Engineering & Infrastructures; PNC Infratech; consortium of R K Associates & Hoteliers, Omaxe; Welspun Enterprises.
Apart from this, eight applicants each have qualified for participation in RfP stage for Cluster 5 (Chandigarh), Cluster 6 (Howrah) and Cluster 7 (Patna) and Cluster 12 (Bengaluru). While nine applicants each have qualified for participation in RfP stage for Cluster 8 (Prayagraj), Cluster 9 (Secunderabad) and Cluster 10 (Jaipur).
Five applicants are qualified for participation in RfP stage for Cluster 11 (Chennai) of PPP in passenger train operations project. This includes - Cube Highways and Infrastructure III, GMR Highways, IRB Infrastructure Developers, L&T Infrastructure Development Projects and Megha Engineering & Infrastructures.
The RfP documents will be made available to the qualified applicants very soon.