KOLAR: To augment rail transport capacity to meet the growing requirement of movement of freight traffic, the Indian Railways has decided to develop freight corridors along its busy trunk routes, said Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa. A press release from the Minister’s office stated that the freight corridors are being developed or implemented by Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India, a special purpose vehicle and a wholly-owned PSU of the Ministry of Railways formed in October 2006.
The Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor Project is being monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). During the last review, it was decided to formulate a comprehensive integrated master plan for the development of the corridor with all related infrastructure. During the course of deliberations, the Andhra Government had requested for extension of the corridor up to Krishnapatnam Port and the Government of Karnataka had urged for extension up to Chitradurga, apart from Chennai and Bangalore sections, it said.
The Bangalore-Chennai Expressway of 258 km on National H ighway4 is a green field alignment and will be operated with a closed toll system. The alignment has been finalised, he said.