Alstom bags Rs 1,497-cr order from DFCCIL

The project is for electrification, signaling and telecom works for a part of the Eastern DFC project

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL), a state-owned entity under the railway ministry, has awarded Rs 1,497 crore contract for electrification, signaling and telecom works for a part of the Eastern DFC project to a unit of French transport giant Alstom,

Alstom India Ltd informed the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today a proposed Joint venture (JV) of ALSTOM India (AIL) and Alstom Transport S.A. has been issued a Letter of Acceptance by DFCCIL for design, construction, supply, testing and commissioning of railways lines under construction for Bhaupur-Khurja Section of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.

"Further the company has informed that AIL had completed the sale and transfer of its transportation systems undertaking (Transport Undertaking) to ALSTOM Transport India Limited (ATIL), as a going concern on a 'slump sale' basis on March 31, 2014," the company said in a statement to the BSE.

The Rail Ministry informed in a separate statement the Kanpur-Khurja section is 343 Kilometer long and the contract for the World Bank-funded project has been awarded through International Competitive Bidding Process.

The Kanpur-Khurja Section will have 10 stations with a spacing of 35-40 Kilometer. Among these, four would be Junction Stations connecting Indian Railways network for exchange of freight traffic. The system will carry long Haul freight trains of 13,000 tons at a maximum speed of 100 kmph.

When commissioned the section will improve the average speed of 25 kmph on Indian Railway to 65 kmph. "The contract for Civil Work is already awarded and the construction work is progressing at a fast pace. The complete Bhaupur - Khurja section is planned for opening during 2018," the ministry said.

DFCCIL is engaged in planning, construction, operation and maintenance of the dedicated freight corridors and in the first phase, the two corridors -- Eastern Corridor from Ludhiana to Dankuni (1840 kms) and the Western Corridor from Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) (1502 kms) -- are being constructed. The entire Western Corridor is being funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), while the Eastern Corridor is largely funded by the World Bank.