Government has awarded three rail connectivity projects under its ambitious Sagarmala project, which aims to develop port infrastructure along the country's 7,500 km coastline.
"Three rail connectivity projects under the Ministry of Shipping's flagship programme 'Sagarmala' , worth Rs 38.71 crore have been awarded by Indian Port Rail Company Limited (IPRCL)," a statement from the Ministry said.
These projects will help increase connectivity and efficiency of ports, it said.
IPRCL has sanctioned a project worth Rs 16.75 crore at Visakhapatnam Port Trust for connectivity and the work is likely to be completed by December 2016.
Another project sanctioned at Visakhapatnam, 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 Rs 9.28 crore. The project is expected to be completed by January 2017.
The third project has been approved at Chennai Port Trust for 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 Rs 12.68 crore and the work is expected to be completed by April, 2017," the statement said.
IPRCL is also working towards executing 18 more port connectivity projects, it added.
All these projects will help in better port connectivity and quick evacuation of cargo.
