Railways takes up dedicated freight corridor project

Ahmednagar, Jan 3 (UNI) The Railways have undertaken the work of laying two dedicated freight corridors, and constituted an independent board to oversee all aspects of goods transport.

Christened as the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), its managing director V K Kaul told reporters at Shirdi near here today that work of laying two dedicated lines -- one between Delhi and Mumbai and the other between Delhi to Howrah -- were underway. This Rs 40,000-crore 5,600-kilometre project will be completed within seven years, he said.

Out of the Rs 40,000 crore required for the project, Japan has agreed to extend a loan of Rs 20,000 crore at one per cent interest, he said.

With the completion of the dedicated freight corridor, the respective distances could be covered in 20 hours. Besides, the dedicated freight corridor will ease the burden on passenger trains, Mr Kaul said.

Mr Kaul informed that last year the railways had earned a revenue of Rs 45,000 crore through goods transport. This year, the railways proposes to net Rs 55,000 crore in revenue, Mr Kaul said.

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