New Delhi, Dec 24: In a bid to ensure speedy coal loadings, the railways today joined hands with Coal India for procurement of 2,000 high-capacity wagons.
Coal India will make a total investment of about Rs 5,000 crore for wagon procurement.
As per the MoU signed between the two, the wagons will be procured by railways on behalf of Coal India for exclusive use in the evacuation of coal traffic from the mines of Coal India.
Describing the partnership with Coal India as “path breaking”, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said it was the first time that such a collaboration has been achieved and investment would be made by the customer. Initial investment would be Rs 500 crore which will go up to Rs 5,000 crore, he said.
These wagons will be high-capacity wagons of 25-tonne axle load with additional payload of 8 to 10 tonnes over the conventional wagons.
Coal accounts for almost 50 per cent of the railways’ freight basket and 43 per cent of its freight revenues.
The MoU envisages creation and augmentation of infrastructure on all important routes to enable running of 25 -tonne wagons.
