The Hindu Business Line : Rail Vikas to build freight route from Haridaspur-Paradip

RAIL Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) is in talks with the Orissa Government, iron ore exporters and Paradip port for the special purpose vehicle (SPV) being planned for laying a dedicated freight route from Haridaspur to Paradip.

"The total cost for building the dedicated iron ore route would be about Rs 440 crore," according to the RVNL Director (Operations), Mr R.K. Jain.

One of the interesting features of this rail track is that it would have an axle load capacity of 30 tonne per axle instead of the usual tracks that have a capacity of about 20.32 tonne per axle, he said.

With this increased axle load, the total load that could be carried per wagon increases by almost 40 per cent. Each eight-wheeler wagon generally has four axles and there is an upper limit specified for each axle. Thus, each wagon can carry a total load of 81.28 tonne including the weight of wagon at a permitted axle load of 20.32 tonne. However, with axle load increased to 30 tonne, the total load will increase to 120 tonne.

Explaining the Railways' need to build the Haridaspur-Paradip line, Mr Jain said, "At present the rail route for Paradip from Banaspani (located in Western Orissa where iron ore mines are present) is via Cuttack. The Cuttack route is congested with passenger trains already. Thus this route offers a shorter and faster alternate route. Additionally, a higher axle load would ensure higher revenue-earning freight carriage capacity."

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