Rlys plans to begin work on freight corridor

Hyderabad: The Railways is planning to begin construction work on the exclusive freight corridor this financial year. Forty expressions of interests, including those from foreign companies, have been received for executing the ambitious Rs.30,000-crore freight corridor project running over a length of 3,000 km on the western coast.

This was announced at a press conference by Satish Kumar Vij, Member (Engineering), Railway Board, on the sidelines of a three-day seminar on ‘Recent advances and future trends in design and construction of bridges’ organised at Rail Nilayam.

Mr. Vij said the Japanese Banking Investment Corporation and the World Bank had shown interest in the double-line freight corridor project which is expected to be completed in seven years. The Japanese investment in the project’s western corridor could be Rs.12,000 crore.

He stated that the World Bank was showing interest in the eastern corridor from Khurda to Moghalsarai. The funds required for the project would be available in nine months time.

According to Mr. Vij, a special purpose vehicle for the project has already been set up.

The core organisation has also been constituted and the process of land acquisition has begun. The construction of a number of bridges across major rivers and streams required for the project would also commence this year itself. These would include those in the Surat-Mumbai sector.

Replying to a question on the expenditure on the Railways’ infrastructure works, he said a sum of Rs.12,000 crore would be spent this year on the laying of new lines, doubling works among others. Finding the required funds was a challenge. He stated that the Railways Vikas Ltd planned to take up construction work in African countries.