UPA govt. to promote PPP model for infrastructure growth: Kalam

New Delhi, Feb 23 (UNI) Showering praise on the UPA government for launching sustained efforts to promote Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as an instrument for building world class infrastructure, President APJ Abdul Kalam today said the salutary results of such a policy were to be seen in the phenomenal changes in the railway, civil aviation, power, road and port sectors.

In his address to both Houses of Parliament, heralding the opening of the Budget Session, Dr Kalam, in particular, singled out the incredible ''turnaround'' of Indian Railways, saying it was once again on track because of market-driven pricing policy, rational utilisation of capacity and improved supply and demand management.

''Over the last 30 months, railway freight volumes have grown by 8-10 per cent and growth in passenger volumes has doubled.

Container business has been opened up to private businesses,'' Dr Kalam said.

Stressing the need to maintain this momentum, he said this would require modernisation and creation of additional infrastructure through promotion of the PPP model.

''There has been an encouraging response to the offer to allow prIvate container trains,'' he said.

With regard to the Dedicated Rail Freight Corridor, which received the Cabinet nod only yesterday, he said preliminary work on the project had begun.

''The project will provide the necessary infrastructure support for growth in container, coal and other mineral traffic. This project is proceeding on a fast track basis and a Special Purpose Vehicle called the Dedicated Freight Coridor Corporation of India Limited has been formed to implement the project.'' MORE UNI