Work commences on 320-km stretch of western freight corridor

Hyderabad, Jan 5: Tata Projects Limited on Tuesday announced that it is commencing work on the Rs.4,328 crore project to build the 320-km stretch of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, a dedicated freight line connecting Delhi and Mumbai.

The Hyderabad-based company, along with IRCON International Limited, is part of the Express Freight Consortium, which is led by Mitsui & Co., Ltd. of Japan.

The consortium plans to complete the work in scheduled time of 48 months using latest technology of Automated Track Laying Machines.

The machine lays the sleepers; special rails imported from Japan, and clamps all together in an automated manner simultaneously.

The rails used are special 'Head Hardened (HH)' 250-metre-long rails which are welded together using Flash Butt welding machines, creating a smooth track.

The axle load of the track would be 32.5 tonnes, at par with tracks in Japan, compared to the current Indian rail tracks of 25 tonne axle load.

The project is for civil and track works and will be executed between Vaitarana and Sachin (186 km) and between Sachin and Vadodara (134 km), the company said in a statement.

The Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) is an ambitious programme of the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, involving construction of two corridors: The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor from Ludhiana to Dankuni, and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor from Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai.

It is being implemented by Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL).

Vinayak Deshpande, managing director, Tata Projects, said they were already constructing a section of the Eastern Freight Corridor. "The early commencement of work, within a short period of the award of contract, is testimony to our proven execution excellence and capabilities in this area," he said.

"Mitsui is strongly committed to this market and delighted to take part in supporting the future development of India, and we hope that the good relationship between India and Japan will keep flourishing for the further development of India," said Toru Suzuki, chairman & managing director, Mitsui & Co. India Pvt. Ltd.

Mohan Tiwari Chairman & Managing Director, IRCON said IRCON with its core competence in railway infrastructure projects and impressive track record of excellence, along with other members of the consortium were committed to deliver this project to the satisfaction of DFCCIL and Indian Railways.

IANS