To provide greater hinterland connectivity to minor ports, the railway ministry has started work on providing broad gauge connectivity to four minor ports in Gujarat and one in Andhra Pradesh.

Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL) will be working on the gauge conversion of the Bharuch-Samni-Dahej line, which connects Dahej port with the hinterland and will also be undertaking the preliminary engineering-cum-traffic survey for rail connectivity to Dholera port.

The railway ministry is also in the process of setting up an SPV for implementation of a 30 km new broad gauge line between Surat and Hazira port. The final location survey (FLS) for this project has been done by RVNL and the SPV will be formed once the principles for revenue allocation are finalised. The estimated cost of the proposed project is Rs.130 crore.

The gauge conversion work of the 62 km Bharuch-Samni-Dahej line is being implemented by RVNL through an SPV - Bharuch-Dahej Railway Company Ltd - with an investment of Rs.165 crore. The final location survey has been completed for this project and the report was submitted to the Divisional Railway Manager (Baroda) in June 2007. Apart from this, the Railway Board is also appraising the study report prepared by RITES for providing broad gauge connectivity to Bedi port in Gujarat.

The railway ministry is also in the process of finalising a similar project at Krishnapatnam port. It will be setting up a new 129 km long Obulavaripalli-Krishnapatnam broad gauge line. The project is to be funded through the SPV route, and it estimated to cost around Rs.473 crore.

Also See:

Railways to link up ports in Gujarat (25-Jan-07)