LIC Presents the Cheque of Rs.2000 crore as the First Tranche of Funding Assistance to Railways
Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), a PSU of Government of India presented the cheque of Rs.2000 crore to Railway PSU Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) as the first tranche of funding assistance to Railways for its projects. This handing over of cheque was done today i.e. 27.10.2015 at an impressive function at Rail Bhawan in the presence of Ministry of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu. The cheque was handed over by Shri S.B. Mainak, MD/LIC to Shri Rajiv Dutt, MD/IRFC. On this occasion, Chairman Railway Board Shri A.K. Mital, Financial Commissioner (Railways) & Chairman, IRFC Shri S. Mookerjee; and other Board Members & other Railway and LIC officials were among those present.
It may be recalled that just within fifteen days of presenting the Railway Budget 2015-16, an important commitment of Budget announcement was fulfilled on 11.03.2015 when Railways and LIC signed an MoU for the highest ever funding of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore from LIC to Railways.
Addressing the gathering, Minister for Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, pointed out that finding resources for investment in capacity enhancement projects was a major challenge for Railways. Without investment, it would not be possible to decongest the network, increase traffic output and generate adequate internal resources. He said that without the fresh investment, the Railways would have gone further down and down and it would not have succeeded in breaking the vicious cycle. The Railway budget 2015-16 had, therefore, envisaged a new source of funds in the form of Institutional Finance. It was a big achievement that within a few days of presenting the budget, the Ministry of Railways signed a Memorandum of Understanding with LIC for funding assistance of Rs.1.5 lakh crore for financing Railway projects over a period of 5 years. As LIC funding will be of 30 year tenor, it matches the Railways’ requirement of long term funds for investment in projects. LIC funds will carry low interest rates tied to Government security.
Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), a PSU of Government of India presented the cheque of Rs.2000 crore to Railway PSU Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) as the first tranche of funding assistance to Railways for its projects. This handing over of cheque was done today i.e. 27.10.2015 at an impressive function at Rail Bhawan in the presence of Ministry of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu. The cheque was handed over by Shri S.B. Mainak, MD/LIC to Shri Rajiv Dutt, MD/IRFC. On this occasion, Chairman Railway Board Shri A.K. Mital, Financial Commissioner (Railways) & Chairman, IRFC Shri S. Mookerjee; and other Board Members & other Railway and LIC officials were among those present.
It may be recalled that just within fifteen days of presenting the Railway Budget 2015-16, an important commitment of Budget announcement was fulfilled on 11.03.2015 when Railways and LIC signed an MoU for the highest ever funding of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore from LIC to Railways.
Addressing the gathering, Minister for Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, pointed out that finding resources for investment in capacity enhancement projects was a major challenge for Railways. Without investment, it would not be possible to decongest the network, increase traffic output and generate adequate internal resources. He said that without the fresh investment, the Railways would have gone further down and down and it would not have succeeded in breaking the vicious cycle. The Railway budget 2015-16 had, therefore, envisaged a new source of funds in the form of Institutional Finance. It was a big achievement that within a few days of presenting the budget, the Ministry of Railways signed a Memorandum of Understanding with LIC for funding assistance of Rs.1.5 lakh crore for financing Railway projects over a period of 5 years. As LIC funding will be of 30 year tenor, it matches the Railways’ requirement of long term funds for investment in projects. LIC funds will carry low interest rates tied to Government security.