Standard Post with Image

Railways, Chhattisgarh Sign Pact to Develop 3 Corridors

  • Railways today signed a pact with Chhattisgarh government for the development of three rail corridors totalling 452 kms at a cost of Rs 4500 crore.The three corridors, which will ferry passenger traffic and freight, would be developed in seven economically backward but coal-rich districts in the northern region of the state.A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed by Railway Board Chairman Vinay Mittal and Chhatisgarh Chief Secretary Sunil Kumar in the presence of Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi and state Chief Minister Raman Singh.The three corridors would be developed on the public- private-partnership model over the next five years, Singh told reporters after the signing ceremony.
  • The state govt will acquire the land for the project while the railways will lay the line, the chief minister said, adding that a special purpose vehicle would be set up to undertake the project."It is a win-win situation for the railways and the Chhattisgarh government," Trivedi said.Coal and power generating companies operating in northern Chhattisgarh are expected to participate in the development as the rail lines will be used to carry freight."This project will be a boon for seven districts including Raigarh and Sarguja," Singh said, adding that it was also a step towards development of SC and ST-dominated areas of the state.The rail corridors will connect Bhupdevpur-Ghatghoda- Dharam Jaigarh, Surajpur-Korba and Gevra Road to Sindurgarh.

Source