Hinterland projects to accelerate logistics efficiency and reduce costs
The Network Planning Group, constituted under the institutional framework of ‘PM GatiShakti National Master Plan’, has examined and recommended 3 important railway projects on 3 Aug 2022.
These are Doubling of Gorakhpur Cantt – Valmikinagar rail line, Katihar – Mukuria and Katihar – Kumedpur Doubling and Pachora – Jamner Gauge Conversion & Extension up to Bodwad.
“All 3 projects are extremely important with a view to ensure faster movement of goods in the hinterland which will accelerate the logistics efficiency and bring reduction in logistics costs,” Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a release on 4 Aug 2022.
The Ministry of Railways has identified ‘high density network’ of rail lines to achieve target of 3,000-million metric tonne of freight movement.
As part of that mission, the details of projects are:
Rs.1,120 crore Doubling of Gorakhpur Cantt – Valmikinagar rail line
To ensure freight flow, particularly food grain movement from western India to North Eastern States, Gorakhpur Cantt – Valmikinagar (95 km.) is an important stretch which was having only single railway line affecting the freight movement. From Valmikinagar upto Muzaffarpur, work on doubling is already going on. This proposed Rs.1,120 crore doubling project is expected to improve the logistics efficiency significantly.
Rs.942 crore Katihar – Mukuria and Katihar – Kumedpur Doubling
Katihar – Mukuria and Katihar – Kumedpur are extremely busy sections. Currently, this is single line and it is a Rajdhani train route. This is important link to connect Northeast and also Howrah. Doubling of these sections will significantly help movement of cargo from Kolkata Port to Virat Nagar. The cost cof this project is Rs.942 crore.
Rs.955 crore Pachora – Jamner Gauge Conversion & Extension upto Bodwad
This project is in Maharashtra. Pachora to Jamner Gauge Conversion and extension of railway line of Bodwad. This 84-km project is anticipated to cost of Rs.955 crore. This project will provide bye pass double line railway connectivity for Jalgaon and Bhusawal. It will provide faster freight movement from JNPT to Nagpur and eastern region of the country.
The Network Planning Group has recommended all 3 project proposals, and further suggested certain components from integrated planning and synchronized implementation concept.
Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change has assured faster clearances. All these projects have been mapped on PM GatiShakti NMP, through which these projects will be implemented over the next five years within estimated cost
The Network Planning Group has the head of Planning Divisions of the infrastructure Ministries including Railways, MoRTH, Power, MoPNG, MNRE, DoT, MoCA, MoPSW with special representative from NITI Aayog and MoEF&CC. Logistics Division, DPIIT, functions as secretariat of PM GatiShakti. fiinews.com
