'Navratna' status gives IRFC wider legroom to fund anyone: CMD Dubey

Indian Railway Finance Corporation, which earned Navratna status from the government, on Wednesday said that with this recognition, it can go beyond its present funding activities to the needs of the Indian Railways to all other companies operating in the whole rail eco-system. The Company's Navratana Lago was unveiled in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Interacting with the media persons to update the future plans after being awarded the Navratna status, Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) CMD and CEO Manoj Kumar Dubey said the company, which was funding to the Indian Railways, has now got wider legroom to finance all other companies and activities which come under the rail logistics eco-system. Dubey said that his company will have several edges as compared to his competitors when it comes to bidding for railway-linked projects because the IRFC maintains very low expenses, has access to cheap raw material (loan) and it wants a margin of over 40 paise, a margin it gets from the Railways currently. Dubey banked upon the company's zero NPA status. "Out of all the three government financial institutions -- the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and IRFC -- that can issue 54EC bonds (capital gain bonds), our nil NPA status makes us safest among all," he said.
On March 3, 2025, the government approved the upgradation of IRCTC and IRFC to Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprises. At present, nearly 86 per cent of the company is owned by the Ministry of Railways and nearly 13 per cent by all diverse shareholders in the country as well as overseas.