Railways plans to develop 2 dedicated corridors

Visakhapatnam: Indian Railways is planning to develop two dedicated corridors for freight movement one between Mumbai and New Delhi and the other between Ludhiana and Kolkata and Japanese aid is likely for these projects, according to Mr K.C Jena, Chairman of the Railway Board.

Mr Jena, on a two-day visit to Visakhapatnam, addressed the media on Saturday after inspecting the facilities at the railway station here.

He said the Japanese aid for the two corridors may amount to $450 billion and the issue also figured in the discussions the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, held with the Japanese leaders during his recent visit to that country.

He said the Railways would take up many projects in future in the public-private partnership mode, presently a coach factory and loco shed were being planned.

The Railways had a surplus of Rs 25,000 crore last year and it could go up to Rs 32,000 crores this fiscal.

He asserted that the Railways was on a sound footing and would continue to play a vital role in the development of the country.

He promised that rail projects in Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam in particular, would be taken up on a priority basis.