Title - East Coast Railways eyes pvt partners for infra boost

BHUBANESWAR: The East Coast Railways (ECoR) has sought private participation in a big way to improve its infrastructure. So far, it has come up with five projects in participatory models and mobilized Rs 1,200 crore from different industry players.

"Odisha has witnessed rapid industrialization in the last few years and the prospect of private participation in railway infrastructure development is huge. We are getting very good response from industries," said G D Brahma, chief operations manager, ECoR.

Brahma said the National Minerals Development Corporation (NMDC) has invested Rs 800 crore for laying an additional line between Kirandul and Jagadalpur in Chhattisgarh. It will connect its mines with its proposed steel plant and will also help in evacuating iron ore. NMDC will recover the invested money through freight rebate, he added.

In Odisha, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has invested Rs 200 crore for introducing auto-signaling at railway crossings between Paradip and Talcher. "It would facilitate transportation of more rakes by the MCL. As a result, the investor would be able to recover the money from increased freight and resultant profits," Brahma said. MCL has been transporting 23 to 24 rakes in a day, but after the introduction of auto-signaling system, the number will increase to 45 rakes a day. The MCL will recover its investment in six to seven months, he added.

Similarly, the Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGEN) has evinced interest in investing Rs 80 crore for auto-signaling from Talcher to Gundapalli to Vijaywada. Besides, infrastructure companies GMR and Lanco have made investment of Rs 20 crore to lay an additional line between Talcher to Meramandali.

In addition to this, the ECoR has also envisaged expanding railway lines between Talcher and Raj Athagarh from two lines to four lines through participatory approach. "Industrial development in Jharsuguda area offers huge prospects of private players in railway infrastructure development," Brahma said.