The Hindu Business Line : Kolkata port picks RITES for network study

Kolkata, Feb. 18 Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has decided to commission RITES Ltd, the subsidiary of Indian Railways, to suggest measures to enhance the capacity of the port’s own railway networks at both Kolkata Dock System and Haldia dock, keeping in view the projected rise in traffic at both places.

RITES, it is learnt, has indicated to firm up its findings within nine to 10 months. However, KoPT is yet to place the order for the job.

“We hope to place the order shortly,” according to a spokesman for KoPT, adding that, “we’re progressing fast in this matter”.

The rail-borne traffic at Kolkata Dock System is increasing at a rapid rate – from 0.8 million tonnes (mt) in 2003-04 to 2.5 mt in 2006-07 and is likely to touch the level of three mt in the current fiscal.

During the same period, the rail-borne traffic at Haldia increased from 14.05 mt in 2003-04 to 16.01 mt in 2005-06, only to drop to 14.69 mt in 2006-07, but slated to rise to 17 mt in the current fiscal.

The proposed study will cover the whole gamut of issues relating to the operation of the port railways such as the setting up of additional yards, constructing new lines, creating facilities for handling multi-modal traffic, acquiring locomotives, updating signalling system and assessing the manpower requirement.

Doubling rail line

Meanwhile, the Haldia dock authorities have again taken up with Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) the issue of doubling the railway line between Rajagoda and Durgachak covering a distance of 46 km.

Indian Railways had earlier decided to double the 60-km long railway line between Panskura located on the Howrah-Kharagpur section of the South Eastern Railway and Durgachak located on Panskura-Haldia section of South Eastern Railway, and accordingly South Eastern Railway completed the job on the 14-km stretch between Panskura and Rajagoda. Subsequently, the job of doubling the balance 46 km was left to RVNL, which, following a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, decided against undertaking it.

Haldia dock authorities, it is now learnt, after having examined the PwC study, have not only identified the areas where it went wrong but have also submitted a fresh report to RVNL, making a strong case for doubling the balance 46 km and emphasising the need for an early completion. RVNL, it is learnt, is yet to respond.