Cabinet note on FDI in rail, construction sectors ready: Anand Sharma

04 Mar 2014 Evaluate

In a positive development, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said the cabinet note on allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the railway and construction sectors has been approved. Further, the minister highlighted all the processes to cabinet note stand completed and that the proposal would take final shape soon.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) had batted for relaxation of FDI norms in the construction sector and 100 per cent FDI in the railway sector. The DIPP sought approval to allow 100% FDI in railway infrastructure such as elevated rail corridor projects, freight terminals, suburban corridors, dedicated freight lines and high-speed train systems.

Further, DIPP also proposed that a core committee within the Railways ministry should examine all proposals of foreign direct investment (FDI) from the perspective of security before giving a final clearance. This committee would ensure railway projects with private or foreign investments are not detrimental to overall national interests.

The proposal is part of the FDI reforms' drive revived by the government last year that led to raising of FDI caps in some sectors, along with changing of entry route to automatic. Last year, the government has relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in several sectors such as telecom, defense, PSU oil refineries, commodity bourses, power exchanges and stock exchanges.

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