Three rail connectivity projects under the Ministry of Shipping’s flagship programe ‘Sagarmala’, worth Rs 38.71 crores have been awarded by Indian Port Rail Company Limited (IPRCL). These projects will help to increase connectivity and efficiency of ports. The port wise details of the connectivity projects are:
(1) Visakhapatanam Port Trust: IPRCL has sanctioned a project for providing direct connectivity between OEC and Western Sector joining at NAD curve from Eastern Coast Railways. The estimated cost of this project is 16.75 crores. The work for this project has been awarded and is likely to be completed by December 2016.
(2)Visakhapatanam Port Trust: Another project which has been sanctioned by IPRCL is for connecting the dead end line at North of R&D yard to Eastern Grid (third line) from Eastern Coast Railways at a cost of 9.28 crores. The work for this project has been awarded and is expected to be completed by January 2017.
(3)Chennai Port Trust: The third connectivity project that has been approved by IPRCL is the laying of new railway track at west of western yard 1 and providing paving block platform in between new track and western yard 1. The overall cost of this project is 12.68 crores and the work is expected to be completed by April, 2017.
IPCRL is also working towards executing 18 more port connectivity projects. All these projects will help in better port connectivity and quick evacuation of cargo.