With private-public participation the new mantra in infrastructure building, the private sector has turned its attention to railway projects.
Players like the Aditya Birla Group, Jindal Group, and Adani Group are competing to buy stakes in different projects, with multinationals like Posco and Sinosteel not far behind.
The 78-km Haridaspur-Paradeep rail link for iron ore and coking coal has an equity component of Rs 275 crore. While the builder, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), has a 47 per cent stake in it, the Paradeep Port has 10 per cent, and the Orissa government, 1 per cent.
The remaining 42 per cent is divided among Essel Mining (11 per cent), Roongta Mines (11 per cent), Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (2 per cent), MSPL Ltd (6 per cent), Posco India (10 per cent) and Steel Authority of India Ltd (2 per cent).
In the 129-km Obulavaripalli-Krishnapatnam link, also for the movement of iron ore, coking and thermal coal, RVNL has a stake of 30 per cent, as does the Krishnapatnam Port.
The Andhra government holds 13 per cent, while the National Mineral Development Corporation has a 15 per cent stake. The remaining 12 per cent is yet to see any takers though several players, including JSW and Sinosteel, have shown interest in it. The project has an equity component of Rs 267 crore (Rs 2.67 billion).
The 62-km Bharuch-Dahej rail link to be built for the movement of coal, steel pipes, and fertilisers has an equity component of Rs 75 crore (Rs 750 million). RVNL has a stake of 33 per cent in it, while the Gujarat government has 13.2 per cent.
The remaining 53.8 per cent is equally divided among Gujarat Maritime Board, Dahej SEZ Ltd, Gujarat National Fertiliser Corporation and Adani Port (Dahej) Pvt Ltd, with a 13.2 per cent stake for each.
