The Hindu Business Line : Paradip port hopes for more rail traffic by Dec

This will be possible because of several factors. First, the work on the doubling of the Nirgundi-Kendrapara section on the Talcher-Paradip railway network is expected to be completed by the middle of this year. More importantly, PPT proposes to "rationalise" its yard capacity to handle the projected rise in the number of rakes.

The present network now handles 13 rakes a day — 11 for the port and another two for Paradip Phosphates and the Indian Oil Corporation together. Once the rail movement capacity is enhanced, as many as 14 rakes will move on the PPT account alone, it is felt.

The doubling of the railway line between Talcher and Paradip presupposes construction of two railway bridges over two rivers, namely, the Birupa and the Mahanadi. While the construction of the bridge over the Birupa, now in progress, will be over in due course, that on the Mahanadi, it being a huge river, will take longer. It is hoped that within the next few months, the work on the doubling of the line up to Kendrapara will be completed; to that extent the problem of congestion, currently plaguing the network, will be reduced and a larger number of rakes will move into the port.

To fund the proposed revamping of the yard capacity, PPT is utilising a portion of the loan that it received from the Asian Development Bank for creating a mechanised coal-handling facility. The Railways has undertaken the job, estimated to cost Rs 6 crore. Under the proposed revamping, the existing line capacity is likely to remain more or less the same but the signalling facility will be updated. "The Railways, which has just started the work, has to give us a tight schedule," said PPT sources.

They, however, made it clear that once the railway capacity has been augmented, PPT, instead of having to divert the traffic currently being handled by road, will try to attract additional rail-borne traffic, and thermal coal and iron ore will be the obvious choice.