New Delhi: The two Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) namely Eastern Corridor (Dankuni-Ludhiana, 1839 Kms.) and the Western Corridor (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) to Dadri, 1499 Kms.) is estimated to cost Rs73,392 crore, informed Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Thursday.
“The estimated completion cost of construction of the two Corridors, excluding land, and excluding Sonnagar-Dankuni section, which is to be implemented through Public Private Partnership (PPP), is Rs73,392 crore (Eastern DFC – Rs26,674 crore and Western DFC – Rs46,718 crore),” the Minister stated.
The cost of land for both the corridors is estimated at Rs8067 crore (Eastern DFC – Rs3684 crore and Western DFC- Rs 4383 crore).
Elaborating on the funds for the project the minister stated, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding Western DFC. Around 77% of the project cost i.e. Rs38,772 crore is being funded by loan from JICA. On the other hand, World Bank is funding the 1,183 km section from Ludhiana to Mughalsarai of the Eastern DFC. Around Rs13,625 crore i.e. 66% of the project cost is funded by loan from World Bank whereas 122 kms Section of Mughalsarai-Sonnagar Section of Eastern DFC is funded by Gross Budgetary Support and 534 kms of Sonnagar-Dankuni Section likely to cost Rs3679 crore is to be implemented through PPP. The balance excluding debt is funded through Budgetary Support from the Government.
Work on two Corridors is in progress. Highlighting the development, Sinha states, On Eastern DFC, construction work is in progress on Mughalsarai-Sonnagar section. Civil contract has also been awarded on 343 kms Khurja-Kanpur section and work has started. On Western DFC, civil contract has been awarded on 625 kms Rewari-Palanpur section and work has started. Construction of 25 major and important bridges between Vaitarana and Bharuch has been completed.
“Project implementation schedule, timelines and milestones have been drawn up and are being monitored on regular basis. For better coordination, state level coordination committees with respective State Governments have been formed to avoid delay in land acquisition and other related issues,” the minister informed.
The Western DFC is targeted to be commissioned in 2018 and Eastern DFC in 2019, excluding Sonnagar-Dankuni Section.
EPC World News Bureau
The post Two DFCs likely to cost Rs73,392 cr excluding Sonnagar-Dankuni Section appeared first on EPC World.