Plan ready for INR 100-trn investment in infra, INR 50-trn in Railways — Goyal

New Delhi, Nov. 27 (PTI): The Centre has chalked out a plan envisaging an investment of INR 100 trillion in the infrastructure sector over the next five years, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. "The investment will transform availability and quality of infrastructure at airports, roads, highways, railways, ports... All infrastructure-related sectors (aviation, shipping, electricity, and oil & gas) are going to see a huge thrust in the next five years," Goyal said. The railways and commerce & industry minister said that " INR 100 lakh crore (INR 100 trillion) in the next five years is not a small amount". He said the railways has drawn up a 12-year plan entailing an investment of INR 50 trillion. " INR 50 lakh crore (INR 50 trillion) in 12 years is an unheard of investment spree that the railways is planning. Obviously, the government cannot put in this kind of money so we will have to engage the private sector. We will have to work closely through the public-private partnership model," Goyal said at the India International Trade Fair in New Delhi. The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision not to join the mega trade deal Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was a bold decision to stand up and protect the rights and the interests of the Indian business community and ensure fair access. "We cannot have a situation that India opens its markets to the world but we do not get an equal access, equal opportunity in the rest of the world. We have to engage with other countries to ensure non-tariff barriers do not stop our exports," Goyal said. He was addressing an awards ceremony organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation.