Double-decker container trains, doing 100 kmph (kilometre per hour), will soon be trundling past city’s suburban stations like Kurla and Ghatkopar. If Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) project goes ahead as per the planned alignment, it may overlap Central Railway’s existing suburban network.
The estimated cost of DFC has also jumped to a whopping Rs 35,000 crore from the earlier Rs 22,000 crore, according to an interim draft feasibility report submitted by the Rail India Technical and Economic Services — an Indian Railways undertaking.
Double-decker trains at 100 kmph speed would mean special tracks and higher vertical clearances of at least 7 meters as it would be difficult to build such a line in the existing infrastructure, given the number of over bridges, electric poles and other such infrastructure. But railway officials, on condition of anonymity, said they were awaiting a final feasibility report from the companies after which a decision would be taken.
CR Mumbai’s railway chief, Divisional Railway Manager RS Virdi told HT: “We will probably have to build a special alignment and separate it from the existing traffic.”
According to the draft report, of the 1,469-km western corridor route, 276 km route will have to be diverted.
{{/usCountry}}According to the draft report, of the 1,469-km western corridor route, 276 km route will have to be diverted.
{{/usCountry}}Email Rajendra Aklekar: rajendra.aklekar@hindustantimes.com