South Asia, Africa promising markets for Railways

Varanasi, Oct 8 (UNI) South Asia and Africa are likely to emerge as the biggest market for locomotives and rail coaches produced by Indian Railways, Railway Board Chairman J P Batra said here today.

Interacting with mediapersons here Mr Batra said the demand for locomotives and rail coaches produced by workshops of Indian Railways was growing in South Asian and African nations. Keeping in mind this trend, both South Asia and Africa were likely to emerge as the biggest export market for Railways, he said, adding, that China was giving a run for money to India in this regard.

Mr Batra further said rail coach and wheel factory were being set up in Rae Bareli and Chapra to meet the growing international demand for Indian Railway products.

He also informed that one station in every zone of Railways will be developed to world-class standard. He said Railways has also decided to commercially lease out, for 25 years to private players, its 63,000 hectares of land lying unutilised. ''But the private companies to whom the land will be leased out will only use the land for such purposes which are beneficial to Railways.'' The revenue generated from leasing out the land will be utilised for betterment of rail services, he added.

The Railway Board Chairman, on the plans of setting up ATM's on railway station said Railways has instead decided to install ATBMs (Automatic Teller Buying Machines) at select stations to help the ATM card holders buy rail tickets at select stations.

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