Final report on feasibility study on DFC in October

New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) The feasibility study report on the Railways' Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) -- the single largest infrastructure project in the country -- being carried out by a Japanese company, will be completed by October this year.

This was conveyed by Japanese Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, who called on Railway Minister Lalu Prasad here today.

''The feasibility study will be completed by October 2007 and will be a comprehensive one, covering technology and maintenance issues,'' said Mr Fuyushiba, who is heading a delegation of his country.

The Japanese minister also assured Mr Prasad of his country's full cooperation in ensuring implementation of the project.

The feasibility study is being carried out by JICA (Japan Industrial Cooperation Agency).

Minister of State for Railways R Velu, Mr Ramesh Chandra, Member (Electrical), Railway Board and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

Welcoming the delegation, Mr Prasad said the Indian Government was committed to implementing all elements of India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership, including a comprehensive economic partnership, agreed to by the Prime Ministers of the two countries in December 2006.

While appreciating Japan's support for the DFC project, he said this project would open the doors to the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor project. He also appreciated Japan's efforts to expedite the feasibility study on the project.

Mr Chandra, in his welcome address, said the DFC project was a flagship project for modernising Indian Railways, and it looked forward to close cooperation with the Japanese government.

The Railways has already set in motion the process of constituting the special purpose vehicle (SPV) -- Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of Indian Limited -- which will implement the project.

The company has been entrusted with the construction of Eastern and Western Corridors at an estimated cost of Rs, 22,000 crores.

The Eastern Corridor will start from Ludhiana in Punjab and will terminate at Sonnagar in Bihar. It will be extended to the proposed deep sea port in Kolkata, considering the possibility of increase in freight traffic.

The Western Corridor will start from Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai and will be routed via Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Palanpur and Rewari to Tuhglakabad (Delhi) and Dadri (Uttar Pradesh).

The two freight corridors were estimated to cost Rs 22,000 crore as per a survey made in 2005, but now it has been pegged at Rs 30,000 crore in view of cost escalation.

Dedicated freight corridors -- tracks exclusively meant for super fast freight trains cruising at a speed of 90-100 km per hour as opposed to the 25 kmph at present -- will facilitate plying of higher axle load wagon and double stack containers.

This will not only improve the quality of rail freight services and sharpen the competitive edge of the Railways but also reduce the cost of rail transportation significantly.

As per the current estimate, work on both the corridors will be completed in about five years after the start of construction of the project.

UNI