Title - ECoR rallies Rs 1200 crore for projects

Pushing for private participation in railway infrastructure development to tide over the financial handicap, East Coast Railways (ECoR) has mobilised around ` 1200 crore for different projects in the State.

National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has invested ` 800 crore for doubling railway line from Jagdalpur to Kirandul in Chhattishgarh.

The additional line over 150 km will connect Bailadila iron ore mines at Kirandul to the proposed 3 mtpa steel plant at Jagdalpur, thus augmenting the evacuation capacity of minerals to meet the requirements of NMDC. The investment would be recovered by the PSU through freight rebate.

“With Odisha witnessing rapid industrialisation, expansion of railway network and infrastructure has assumed utmost importance. The industrialisation spree has also increased the prospects of private participation in railway development. In the last one and a half years, ECoR has generated ` 1,200 crore worth of investment from the stakeholders,” said Chief Operations Manager GD Brahma.

The Railways has introduced participative models where stakeholders invest in projects like new line, additional lines with revenue sharing arrangement by way of freight rebate.

 It has also facilitated deposit work where stakeholders make necessary investment for augmenting terminal and sectional capacity for higher loading and evacuation.

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited has invested ` 200 crore on autosignalling installation from Paradip to Talcher.

MCL will be able to recover its investment within the very short period as the upgradation will enable higher evacuation of  the freight leading to enhanced profit.

From around 23-24 rakes a day, autosignalling will enable carriage of about 45 rakes.

Likewise, Andhra Pradesh PSU APGENCO has invested ` 80 crore in autosignalling from Talcher to Gundapalli and beyond.

 “The participatory approach is the way forward as we cannot keep up with the infrastructure development necessities with limited funds. For every industry, we can have customised solutions,” Brahma said at the Transport Infra Conference here.

ECoR is pushing establishment of private freight terminals (PFT) in a big way. Private investors can develop terminals to handle multi-party cargo and provide value added services like warehousing, road transport. Railway sidings can be developed and shared by the owners.

The first PFT has been set up at Lapanga station by Aryan Ispat and Energy Limited and three more are in the offing.