The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Tuesday approved the Dedicated Multi-Modal High Axle Load Freight Corridor Project on the Eastern and Western Corridor at an estimated total cost of Rs281.81bn.
On the eastern side, the corridor will stretch from Ludhiana to Sonnagar. On the western side, the corridor will connect Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai to Tughlakabad/Dadri near Delhi.
The project will benefit ports, exporters, importers, shipping lines and container operators on the western corridor and coal companies, steel plants and thermal power stations on the eastern corridor, according to the Government.
The project will provide much needed rail infrastructure for growth of the Indian economy and export-import trade. The project will also generate indirect employment during construction phase. The completion period of the 2700-Km project is expected to be five years.
The Eastern Corridor will start from Ludhiana in Punjab and terminate at Sonnagar, via Ambala, Sharanpur, Khurja and Allahabad. However, in view of the representation from the West Bengal Government, the Eastern Corridor will be extended up to the proposed port near Kolkata.
RITES is conducting a pre-feasibility study of Sonnagar-Kolkata portion of the Eastern Corridor. The CCEA will be approached for the approval of the extension project after completion of the study.
Source:http://www.indiainfoline.com,27-11-07
