The railway ministry is looking at allowing private rail sidings for commercial purposes. Till now, they could use the sidings for loading and unloading of their cargo. The Railways is framing a policy so that these sidings may be rented out. Earlier, it would rent it out on an ad-hoc basis. ?Today private rail sidings load and unload their goods. But if most of the time they remain idle, there are other customers of railways who can make use of that,? said S K Mishra, executive director (PPP), Indian Railways. ?We have to find out certain safeguards so that railways? interest is also protected,? he pointed out.