HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Government has requested the Railways to extend its dedicated freight corridor connectivity to ports in the state so that millions of tonnes of cargoes can be handled in a pollution-free and cost-effective manner.
 
In an indication of how significant the freight-only corridors could become for goods transport, Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board CEO NP Ramakrishna Reddy wrote to the Dedicated Freight Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), requesting its support in the state’s upcoming port development projects.
 
He said the DFC connectivity will act as a catalyst for the overall development of the ports and bring in effective and pollution-free transportation of the cargo, besides being cost-effective.
 
For this purpose, an MoU may be entered into to ensure better coordinated efforts, he said in the letter, dated August 10.
 
The DFCCIL is presently working on two corridors — Western Corridor and the Eastern Corridor. Four other corridors are proposed.
 
Talking about the areas the proposed DFC will touch in Andhra Pradesh, an official said as of now, it is planned till Vijayawada.
 
“From there, the freight trains will operate on feeder routes of the Indian Railways, which means it will not be a dedicated freight corridor, with both passenger and mail express running on them. Once an MoU is signed, the corridor can connect different ports in the state specifically,” he said.
 
In his letter, AP Maritime Board CEO Reddy told the DFCCIL that handling of cargoes at all the non-major ports — already developed or under development in the state is to be done either by road or rail.
 
He said the existing ports have rail links, but a DFC connectivity will catalyse the overall development of the ports.

Source: dst.news