Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is likely to appoint a consultant by April to carry out a feasibility study and prepare a detailed project report on having two Multi Modal Logistic Parks (MMLPs) at Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Nilje in Thane District.
As per DFCCIL, the objective of developing these MMLP nodes is to provide end to end logistics solution. The scope of consultancy work involves
- mapping of potential customers for each location,
- the prospective industry,
- the future and current market potential and traffic projections;
- product/service delivery and product mix,
- infrastructure gap assessment in a radius of 100 km around each of the proposed node.
- suggest exact suitable location,
- business model along with
- the conceptual master plan.
Besides, 34 points along Dedicated Freight Corridors, like Palanpur, Mehsana, Rewari, Karchana (Prayagraj) and Gothangam (Surat) have been also been identified as potential MMLP nodes.
DFCCIL is also planning to float an express of interest by end of this month for those keen to invest in such projects.
According to DFCCIL, managing director Anurag Sachan, the freight corridors once fully operational are pitched to take off 70% of freight load in the form of goods trains from the passenger network along these sectors. This he said is the minimum and if railways at some point plans to shift the remaining goods freight traffic as well, the DFCs are equipped for that.
The dedicated corridor will also help improve the efficiency of the passenger trains which will no longer have to negotiate time schedules on account of commercial freight trains. As of now the freight trains move at 25 km per hour on an average due to the traffic load on account of passenger trains.
Once they shift to DFCs their average speed will go up to anywhere between 60 to 70 km per hour on an average with a capacity to go upto 100 km per hour. Thus, DFCCIL sees the logistic Parks as a route to build a network through freight terminals to boost the modal shift to railways from road for freight and bring down logistic costs.
The stretch between Khurja to Bhaupur will be made functional by March this year making a total of 351 kilometres operational.