Government Pushing Delayed Rail Freight Corridor Project, As Deadline Nears

Government has sought list of all components of freight corridor project which have been delayed due to orders of judiciary.

Concerned about the incessant delays and cost escalations in its ambitious Dedicated Rail Freight Corridor project, the government has sought a list of all components of the project which have been delayed due to various orders given by judiciary as well as the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The urgency on part of the Centre has come as the commissioning target for the project, which is scheduled for June 2022 is less than a year away. In a recently held review meeting of the much delayed project, which was chaired by the Prime Minister himself, governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat were asked to complete land acquisition process, relief and rehabilitation work as well as construction of road over bridges as soon as possible. The project, which was envisioned by the erstwhile UPA regime 15 years back, kickstarted construction only in 2014. It entails separate corridors for movement of freight trains exclusively.