CHENNAI: With a view to improving the freight traffic, the Railway Ministry has decided to create a dedicated freight corridor between metropolitan cities. In the first phase, the corridors will be formed between New Delhi and Mumbai and from New Delhi to Howrah.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad told presspersons here on Saturday that a new third line would be laid between these cities to operate goods trains exclusively.

In the second phase, Chennai and Mumbai and Chennai and Howrah would be covered. The motive of the Ministry, Mr. Prasad said was to increase the freight earnings of railways besides reducing the load on road traffic.

Achievement

He claimed that the Indian Railways' finances had improved after the Democratic Progressive Alliance came to power. The Rakesh Mohan Committee report, accepted by the previous NDA Government, had suggested privatisation of manufacturing units of Railways to improve its financial position. But the present government not only rejected the report but also decided not to privatise any railway operation.

The achievements in freight loading and revenue earnings were 125 per cent of the annual target and by the end of the current financial year it would be 200 per cent of the target.

Participating in the valedictory function of golden jubilee celebrations of the Integral Coach Factory here, the Minister said the coach building capacity of the unit would be increased and the existing vacancies would be filled.

He also released a commemorative stamp brought out by the Postal Department and the golden jubilee souvenir.

Electrification

Minister of State for Railways R.Velu said that the Ministry had approved the electrification of Villupuram-Tiruchi section and agreed in principle the gauge conversion of Dindigul-Pollachi-Palghat section.

P.Raja Goundan, general manager, Integral Coach Factory, traced its history and said the unit which started with the manufacture of 350 third class coaches was now rolling out more than 1,100 coaches of different designs in a year.

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