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CII moots Rlys corporatisation
JANUARY 31: CII has suggested setting up an independent regulatory authority for successful corporatisation of Railways. "This would help provide a level-playing field between private and public sector operators, protect public interest and ensure fair competition. Such a regulatory body must be independent from operators in all aspects," the confederation said in a statement on Monday. Advocating that Railways be divided into two arms for improved efficiency, with one arm responsible for infrastructure development and maintenance and the other responsible for service provision, it said an attractive policy framework for public-private partnerships could encourage private sector participation. "The present policy framework has not been successful because of difficulty in obtaining finance and plethora of clearances," it said.On proposals for setting up a rail infrastructure company to undertake metro and light rail systems, it said such a proposal would bring resources from private and foreign investors without much delay. It also suggested phasing out of cross-subsidisation within the next four-five years to improve revenue collections and make the railways competitive in the freight market. Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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