Rlys track goods-specific corridors for growth
AFTER dedicated rail freight corridors, it’s time for product-specific tracks.
By Rajat Guha & Subhash Narayan, TNN |
NEW DELHI: AFTER dedicated rail freight corridors, it’s time for product-specific tracks. The railways are set to develop four high-speed freight corridors to carry commodities such as steel, iron ore, coal and petroleum products.
Developed on the public-private partnership (PPP) model, the dedicated tracks would mainly carry specific goods. Four routes have been identified, including Delhi-Chennai, Goa-Chennai and Kolkata-Gopalpur (Orissa)-Paradip. “The railways have already commissioned a study for the product-specific corridors, that are expected to be completed in two-and-a-half years,” Railway Board chairman JP Batra told ET.
Also, the railways have decided to form a joint working group with industry players in steel, iron ore and coal to study market trends that would help prepare the final route for the proposed corridors.
“Through the new corridors, we hope to cover areas that the dedicated freight corridors would not touch. While facilitating the movement of products and raw material, the new routes would also prove to be lucrative for railways as products such as coal and iron ore contribute the most to their freight earnings,” Mr Batra said, adding that new tracks would be developed keeping in mind existing and future movement of the commodities.
It is expected that the new product routes would come up as East-East corridor - covering Jharkhand, West Bengal and
Orissa for iron ore, steel and coal movement - South-South corridor - from Goa to Chennai, facilitating iron ore movement -
North-South corridor - Delhi to Chennai, facilitating movement of raw material and finished products - and another corridor linking the eastern states with western parts of the country.
While tentative routes have been worked out for the new freight corridors, specific tracks would be finalised after discussions with steel, mining and coal companies, Mr Batra said.
The proposed corridors would support branch lines being developed under the PPP model by Rail Vikas Nigam in collaboration with steel and coal companies.
The new corridors would run high-axle loads of up to 30 tonnes as material loads would be heavy. Similar loads are proposed for the freight corridors that have been approved by the Cabinet.
According to Rail Bhawan sources, the railways would also explore the possibility of linking the new corridors with the dedicated freight corridors, thereby developing a nationwide network of dedicated freight routes. It would give the railways the distinction of having the largest freight network in the world.
rajat.guha@timesgroup.com
Developed on the public-private partnership (PPP) model, the dedicated tracks would mainly carry specific goods. Four routes have been identified, including Delhi-Chennai, Goa-Chennai and Kolkata-Gopalpur (Orissa)-Paradip. “The railways have already commissioned a study for the product-specific corridors, that are expected to be completed in two-and-a-half years,” Railway Board chairman JP Batra told ET.
Also, the railways have decided to form a joint working group with industry players in steel, iron ore and coal to study market trends that would help prepare the final route for the proposed corridors.
“Through the new corridors, we hope to cover areas that the dedicated freight corridors would not touch. While facilitating the movement of products and raw material, the new routes would also prove to be lucrative for railways as products such as coal and iron ore contribute the most to their freight earnings,” Mr Batra said, adding that new tracks would be developed keeping in mind existing and future movement of the commodities.
It is expected that the new product routes would come up as East-East corridor - covering Jharkhand, West Bengal and
Orissa for iron ore, steel and coal movement - South-South corridor - from Goa to Chennai, facilitating iron ore movement -
North-South corridor - Delhi to Chennai, facilitating movement of raw material and finished products - and another corridor linking the eastern states with western parts of the country.
ADVERTISEMENT
While tentative routes have been worked out for the new freight corridors, specific tracks would be finalised after discussions with steel, mining and coal companies, Mr Batra said.
The proposed corridors would support branch lines being developed under the PPP model by Rail Vikas Nigam in collaboration with steel and coal companies.
The new corridors would run high-axle loads of up to 30 tonnes as material loads would be heavy. Similar loads are proposed for the freight corridors that have been approved by the Cabinet.
According to Rail Bhawan sources, the railways would also explore the possibility of linking the new corridors with the dedicated freight corridors, thereby developing a nationwide network of dedicated freight routes. It would give the railways the distinction of having the largest freight network in the world.
ADVERTISEMENT
rajat.guha@timesgroup.com
Start a SIP with as low as ₹500 with ET Money App!
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
