5 multi-modal logistics parks to come up along DFC

Five multi-modal logistic parks including one on the river front at Varanasi at an estimated cost of Rs 5000 crore would be set up along the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) spanning across the country to facilitate seamless movement of goods.
We are in the process of acquiring land for five multi-modal logistic parks along the 3342 km long freight corridors, said Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation Managing Director Adesh Sharma here today.
The logistics hubs are proposed to come up in Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
On Varanasi project, he said it is a first of its kind logistic hubs to come up near a river to connect inland waterways, rail and road connectivity to provide hassle-free, efficient and cost effective cargo movement.

The logistics parks would facilitate the last mile connectivity in terms of door to door services for customers besides giving value addition including packaging, retailing, labelling, transportation of the goods on the dedicated tracks.
Sharma said various options such as PPP route, state government participation and debt equity are being explored to develop logistics parks.

It requires about 300 acres to 500 acres of land for setting up logistics park and it cost about Rs 1000 crore to develop a logistics hub.
For Varanasi project a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation last year.

DFCC MD Adesh Sharma said once the entire track is
operational then railway share in loadings will go up to 45 per cent from the current 36 per cent.
The 56 km long track between Sasaram and Durgavati of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor is going to be commissioned shortly as the line is awaiting safety clearance.
After getting safety clearance, the line will be commissioned between Sasaram and Durgavati, the first section of the DFC to become operational, he said adding the entire DFC will be operational by 2019, Sharma said.
He said once the entire DFC is operational the speed of freight trains will go up to 75 km per hour from the current 25 kmph.

The entire DFC will have no level crossings as there will be either ROB (Railway over bridges) or RUB (Railway under bridges) at crossings to facilitate seamless movement of goods trains.
Besides the DFC will be equipped with train protection warning system to prevent accident.
Sharma said there are four additional freight corridors being planned to strengthen the freight corridors in the country.