With several States facing infrastructural problems for rapid growth, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday announced that the Centre would partner with States, including Karnataka, by entering into joint venture agreements for ownership of assets for developing railway stations and improving network.
Indian Railways has proposed to enter into an agreement with Karnataka for implementing Bengaluru suburban railway system, upgrading railway stations, and expanding railway link to remote areas of the State.
Spelling out various plans of the Indian Railways at the valedictory function of ‘Invest Karnataka 2016’ here, Mr. Prabhu announced an “in-principle” agreement for taking up the Bengaluru suburban railway system to ease traffic congestion in the city, which has emerged as India’s technology capital. “We need different thinking, innovative ways of developing projects to make them reality,” Mr. Prabhu said.
By entering into joint ventures, both States and Indian Railways can share assets and income. A detailed discussion on formation of joint ventures would be held with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after the Railway Budget, he said.
“Just announcing new policies are not enough. We need to provide physical infrastructure to develop industries in other districts. Railways play a huge role in providing connectivity,” Mr. Prabhu said.
Noting Bengaluru’s brand, Mr. Prabhu said, “Karnataka has to develop beyond Bengaluru and Mysuru. Karnataka is much larger than the city (Bengaluru)”.
Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha M. Mallikarjun Kharge took exception to joint ventures in which the Centre’s share was 49 per cent and the State’s 51 per cent. This model would benefit largely developed States. “Increasing burden on the States is not good and this will benefit only industrialists and capitalists,” he said.
We will follow up visa issue: Sitharaman
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman promised to aggressively follow up the vexed issue of movement of natural persons, especially in the IT sector, and exorbitant levy of visa fees by the U.S. “I have already taken up the issue with U.S. trade representative as it is an unnecessary non-tariff barrier,” she said, and declared that India would not give up its fight on the issue along with the concerns over totalisation.
