In yet another important development in the implementation of the ambitious Dedicated Freight Corridor Project of Indian Railways, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) has awarded a major contract for construction of 625 km of double track corridor from Rewari (Haryana) to Iqbalgarh (Gujrat) via Rajasthan at a cost of about Rs 6,700 crore.
The contract has been bagged by SOJITZ – L&T Consortium, the two construction giants from Japan and India respectively, reflecting the true spirit of bilateral cooperation between both the countries. This is the second mega contract of Dedicated Freight Corridor, the first one having awarded in January, 2013 for construction of 343 Kms double line track between Kanpur and Khurja on EDFC. With the finalization of this contract, DFCCIL has successfully achieved awarding of contracts for about 1000 Kms of double line track on the DFC Project.
Work under this contract, this portion of corridor will be completed within a period 208 weeks (4 years) from the date of commencement i.e. August 30, 2013. This contract provides for construction of double line railway track with 25 tonne axle load capable of upgrading to 32.5 tonne axle load with double stack container operation. For the first time in India, technically superior Head Hardened Rails to be imported from Japan are being used for this work, which has a much better service life than the rails being presently used on Indian Railways.
Award of this contract marks the beginning of first step towards implementation of country’s most prestigious infrastructure mega project funded through ODA STEP loan of Government of Japan. With the completion of Dedicated Freight Corridor project, it is expected to give much needed fillip to the economy of the country.
RK Gupta, Managing Director, DFCCIL and Toshihiko Kita / SN Subrahmanyan of SOJITZ – L&T Consortium exchanged the Contract Document with the clearance from JICA (Japan International Corporation Agency), at a simple ceremony held at New Delhi on August 19.