20 rail projects taken up across 8 major ports in 2015-16: IPRCL

Indian Port Rail Corporation (IPRCL) on Thursday said that 20 railway projects were taken up across eight major ports in 2015-16.

Among the works, 11 works with total project cost of Rs 7, 636.15 crores were for preparation of Feasibility and Detailed Project Report (DPR) and nine works with total project cost of Rs 643.77 crores were for project execution.

According to IPRCL, it has completed the pre-feasibility study of a heavy haul rail corridor from Ib Valley-Talcher to Paradip and Dhamra to evacuate coal mines of Mahanadi Coal Ltd (MCL) to the ports for shipping them to the southern states through the coastal route.

IPRCL also said that the company has already started rail infrastructure modernisation in Kolkata, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai, Tuticorin and New Mangalore ports.

"Rail infrastructure expansion and modernization works are likely to commence from April 2017 in Kandla and JNPT ports and in Haldia Dock Complex (HDC). The company has also taken up the task of preparation of DPR for Rail and Road connectivity of the proposed Major Port at Colachel (Enayam) in Tamil Nadu," said a statement from the IPRCL.

IPRCL on Thursday held its maiden Annual General Meeting, during which the company has pushed for enhancement of port connectivity.

Registered on July 10 2015, it is the first of its kind joint venture company, between the Major Ports under the Ministry of Shipping and Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL).

--IANS

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