New Delhi, July 2; In an aim to strengthen the rail evacuation network and to enhance connectivity to the ports, around 21 port rail connectivity projects is likely to be initiated by the Ministry of Railways under the port-connectivity enhancement objective of Sagarmala Program, a flagship program conducted by the Ministry of Shipping. Alongside, additional six projects will also be introduced by the Indian Port Rail Corporation Limited (IPRCL). For this the budget has been estimated to be more than Rs. 20,000 crores.
This proposed plan wil be taken up by the Indian Port Rail Corporation, an incorporated company by Ministry of Shipping according to projects prioritizing. It has been already given work to 3 ports connectivity projects for Vishakhapatnam and Chennai port with 19 projects still to be completed.
Under the Sagarmala Program, various port rail connectivity projects have been identified as a part of the National Perspective Plan, April 2016. It also includes development of heavy haul rail lines form IB valley Talcher to Paradip. This project will facilitate transportation of Thermal Coal to India’s various coastal power plants from Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL). Various Tuticorin and non -major ports like Dhamara, Gopalpur, Krisnapatnam has also been included under these rail connectivity projects. It will further help in reducing logistic cost and time for cargo movement by making Indian trade more competitive and promote trade and sustainable development of coastal communities by expanding and modernizing of the sea ports, cost lines and port connectivity to the hinterland.
With four important objectives, i.e., Port Modernization, New Port Development, Enhancement in Post Connectivity with Industrialization of Port-led and development of Coastal Community, Sagarmala Program was released in April 2016 by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. More than 150 projects identified on the basis of objectives which wil mobilize more than Rs. 4 lakh Crore, creating 1 crore new jobs with 40 lakh direct jobs for 10 years. It’s also expected to generate logistic cost savings of Rs 35,000 crore and boost India’s merchandise exports by 110 billion dollars through these projects by 2025.
