Govt plans SPV for JNPT freight corridor

Centre is likely to float a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the proposed dedicated freight line from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Nhava Sheva, to New Delhi.

According to senior officials from the ministry of shipping, the government is awaiting the techno-economic feasibility study being conducted by Rites, the consulting arm of Indian Railways. The study is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Among other things, the study will look at the possible routes for the line.

Both Gujarat and Rajasthan are in race for the proposed route with Gujarat having a definte edge with a number of private ports in the state, such as Pipavav and Mundhra, wanting to connect to the line.

Both Pipavav and Mundhra port concessionaires have propsed to construct a private railway line from the port to the nearest railhead. The proposal is under consideration by the rail ministry.

The Centre is said to be considering offering these private port operators up to 10 per cent stake in the proposed line.

Other stake holders would include the JN Port Trust, Indian Railways which will operate the line, and container operators such as Maersk and Concor.

The Rites study is also expected to analyse the possibilty of double stacking on the line to double the capacity. Currently, containers are carried in a single stack as the electrification poles along the railway line are at a lower height catering to passenger traffic.

Officials said the Rites study would also look into the feasibility of an electricifed line versus a diesel line.

The proposal for the freight line has already been cleared by the Planning Commission. The line is expected to come up by 2010 in time for the 1st phase of the planned fourth terminal at JNPT which will increase the port's handling capacity by 2 million TEUs.

The second phase of the fourth terminal will increase capacity by an additional 2 million TEUs. The capacity expansion created by the third terminal at JNPT is expected to be handled by the doubling of the Panvel-JN port line which will be completed by May 2006.

This is expected to double the rake handling capacity at the port from the current 13 rakes a day to 25 rakes a day.

Once the dedicated freight line comes into operation, freight traffic between New Delhi and the JN Port which handles most of the exim trade from the northern and the western regions will be able to flow smoothly.

JN port handles freight in excess of 2million TEUs every year. Last year it handled 2.3 million TEUs, while in the first half of this year, the port handled 1.2 million TEUs. This is expected to go up to 2.6 million TEUs by the year end.

Currently, passenger movement on the route is given priority over freight movement, leading to delays in freight movement, especially during the passenger traffic heavy summer months.

RIDE TO NORTH

The proposed dedicated freight line will connect Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Nhava Sheva to New Delhi

The government is awaiting the techno-economic feasibility study being conducted by Rites, the consulting arm of Indian Railways

The Centre is considering offering private port operators up to 10 per cent stake in the proposed line

Other stake holders would include the JN Port Trust, Indian Railways which will operate line, and container operators such as Maersk and Concor