ID :
39313
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 16:36
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http://m.oananews.org//node/39313
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Indian Railway Minister to visit Japan for DFC loan
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) To expedite the work of Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), Railway Minister Lalu Prasad will undertake a week-long trip to Japan for a detailed discussion on the 450 billion yen Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan.
"Though JICA has agreed in principle to provide 450
billion yen soft loan (Rs 17,000 cr) for the 1480 km long
Western Corridor of the DFC, there are still some issues which
needs to be addressed and the same will be taken up during the
visit," a source in the Railway Ministry said.
Besides Lalu, a high-level railway delegation, including
Minister of State for Railway R Velu, Chairman Railway Board K
C Jena and three senior Railway Board officials are scheduled
to leave for Tokyo on January 11.
Currently JICA is conducting an environmental impact
assessment on the Delhi-Mumbai Western Corridor. The report is
likely to be submitted in March.
While Railways have agreed for the electrification of the
Western Corridor route by Japan, it has also decided to buy
electric locos from that country.
"Railways has to utilise 30 per cent of the loan amount
for buying equipment for the DFC project as per the JICA
condition," said the source.
It is expected that railways will buy about 160 high
powered electric locos from Japan for the DFC.
According to the plan, Railways will procure high speed
locos with 9,000 horse power capacity from Japan.
Besides locos, the ministry is also likely to purchase
signalling system from Japan.
After the successful Malaysian tour, Prasad is leading
the high-level delegation to Japan to fine tune the JICA loan
for the DFC.
The importance of the loan for Railways can be understood
from the fact that two ministers from the same ministry are
visiting together a foreign country for it.
They will meet the concerned ministers in Japan and some
agreements are likely to be signed during the visit, said the
source.
The railway delegation will return on January 17.
DFC aims to decongest the existing rail corridor while at
the same time improve the freight movement.
Railway freight target for the current financial year is
850 million tonnes (MT) and is projected to touch 1100 MT by
the end of 11th Five-Year Plan. PTI ARU
SAK
"Though JICA has agreed in principle to provide 450
billion yen soft loan (Rs 17,000 cr) for the 1480 km long
Western Corridor of the DFC, there are still some issues which
needs to be addressed and the same will be taken up during the
visit," a source in the Railway Ministry said.
Besides Lalu, a high-level railway delegation, including
Minister of State for Railway R Velu, Chairman Railway Board K
C Jena and three senior Railway Board officials are scheduled
to leave for Tokyo on January 11.
Currently JICA is conducting an environmental impact
assessment on the Delhi-Mumbai Western Corridor. The report is
likely to be submitted in March.
While Railways have agreed for the electrification of the
Western Corridor route by Japan, it has also decided to buy
electric locos from that country.
"Railways has to utilise 30 per cent of the loan amount
for buying equipment for the DFC project as per the JICA
condition," said the source.
It is expected that railways will buy about 160 high
powered electric locos from Japan for the DFC.
According to the plan, Railways will procure high speed
locos with 9,000 horse power capacity from Japan.
Besides locos, the ministry is also likely to purchase
signalling system from Japan.
After the successful Malaysian tour, Prasad is leading
the high-level delegation to Japan to fine tune the JICA loan
for the DFC.
The importance of the loan for Railways can be understood
from the fact that two ministers from the same ministry are
visiting together a foreign country for it.
They will meet the concerned ministers in Japan and some
agreements are likely to be signed during the visit, said the
source.
The railway delegation will return on January 17.
DFC aims to decongest the existing rail corridor while at
the same time improve the freight movement.
Railway freight target for the current financial year is
850 million tonnes (MT) and is projected to touch 1100 MT by
the end of 11th Five-Year Plan. PTI ARU
SAK
