Lalit Modi row: No signature campaign by BJP MLAs in my support, Raje says
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JAIPUR: Facing opposition heat over the Lalit Modi controversy, beleaguered Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje for the second day on Friday dismissed media reports surrounding her, including that of a signature campaign by 120 party MLAs in her support.
In a statement, a CMO spokesman said the chief minister holds "jansunwai" (public hearing) at her residence every Friday, and for this many MLAs come with the public of their constituency for putting forward their problems and demands.
"Similarly today, the CM is holding public hearing in which MLAs and party workers are meeting", the spokesman said.
"The news of signature by 120 MLAs (in her support) is completely wrong. It is not fair to link public hearing with a different view", he said.
The CMO said the chief minister never asked or made any call to MLAs to show their strength and support.
This is the second day that her office has rubbished media reports surrounding her.
The chief minister's press advisor had said on Thursday night that "false" reports were being run on the basis of "rumours" to tarnish her image and cause "political damage".
The chief minister is in the dock for reportedly giving an affidavit in favour of Lalit Modi, former IPL commissioner who is facing ED probe into alleged money laundering in connection with organising of IPL tournament.
Lalit Modi has made London his home ever since the probe began in 2010.
The CMO said on Friday that some channels were still broadcasting "baseless and untrue" news.
"The chief minister has not made any such statements shown in TV news channels. Some media channels were running news to tarnish the political image of chief minister", he said.
The CMO advised the media to carry only confirmed news. Raje, meanwhile, started her public hearing at 1000 hrs which was being attended by hundreds of people at her residence.
A number of the chief minister's cabinet colleagues including R S Rathore, Yunus Khan, Krishnendra Kaur Deepa and MLAs, and state BJP President Ashok Parnami were present during the hearing which was still underway, the press advisor said.
Media persons were not allowed access to the public hearing, the advisor said.
JAIPUR: Facing opposition heat over the Lalit Modi controversy, beleaguered Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje for the second day on Friday dismissed media reports surrounding her, including that of a signature campaign by 120 party MLAs in her support. In a statement, a CMO spokesman said the chief minister holds "jansunwai" (public hearing) at her residence every Friday, and for this many MLAs come with the public of their constituency for putting forward their problems and demands.
"Similarly today, the CM is holding public hearing in which MLAs and party workers are meeting", the spokesman said.
"The news of signature by 120 MLAs (in her support) is completely wrong. It is not fair to link public hearing with a different view", he said.
The CMO said the chief minister never asked or made any call to MLAs to show their strength and support.
This is the second day that her office has rubbished media reports surrounding her.
The chief minister's press advisor had said on Thursday night that "false" reports were being run on the basis of "rumours" to tarnish her image and cause "political damage".
The chief minister is in the dock for reportedly giving an affidavit in favour of Lalit Modi, former IPL commissioner who is facing ED probe into alleged money laundering in connection with organising of IPL tournament.
Lalit Modi has made London his home ever since the probe began in 2010.
The CMO said on Friday that some channels were still broadcasting "baseless and untrue" news.
"The chief minister has not made any such statements shown in TV news channels. Some media channels were running news to tarnish the political image of chief minister", he said.
The CMO advised the media to carry only confirmed news. Raje, meanwhile, started her public hearing at 1000 hrs which was being attended by hundreds of people at her residence.
A number of the chief minister's cabinet colleagues including R S Rathore, Yunus Khan, Krishnendra Kaur Deepa and MLAs, and state BJP President Ashok Parnami were present during the hearing which was still underway, the press advisor said.
Media persons were not allowed access to the public hearing, the advisor said.
One decapitated in suspected terror attack on French factory
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SAINT-QUENTIN-FALLAVIER: A suspected Islamist attacker pinned a decapitated head covered with Arabic writing to the gates of a gas factory in eastern France on Friday before being arrested, police said.
The suspect entered the factory and set off several small explosive devices, the source said.
Police said it was unclear whether the attacker was acting alone, or had accomplices.
"According to the initial findings of the enquiry, one or several individuals on board a vehicle, drove into the factory. An explosion then took place," said one of the sources.
"The decapitated body of a person was found nearby the factory but we do not yet know whether the body was transported to the place or not," added this source, adding that a "flag with Arabic writing on it was found at the scene."
A man thought to be the person who carried out the attack has been arrested, according to sources close to the enquiry, who said he was known to the security services.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said he would go "immediately" to the scene, his office said.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls ordered increased security measures at all sensitive sites in the area.
The attack, which occurred around 10:00 am local time (0800 GMT), according to local media, came nearly six months after the Islamist attacks in and around Paris that killed 17 people in January that started with a shooting at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Two Islamist brothers attacked the satirical magazine, killing 12. A policewoman and four hostages in a Jewish supermarket were also killed during the three-day attacks.
The January attacks drew record crowds onto the streets of Paris in a historic "march against terrorism".
SAINT-QUENTIN-FALLAVIER: A suspected Islamist attacker pinned a decapitated head covered with Arabic writing to the gates of a gas factory in eastern France on Friday before being arrested, police said. The suspect entered the factory and set off several small explosive devices, the source said.
Police said it was unclear whether the attacker was acting alone, or had accomplices.
"According to the initial findings of the enquiry, one or several individuals on board a vehicle, drove into the factory. An explosion then took place," said one of the sources.
"The decapitated body of a person was found nearby the factory but we do not yet know whether the body was transported to the place or not," added this source, adding that a "flag with Arabic writing on it was found at the scene."
A man thought to be the person who carried out the attack has been arrested, according to sources close to the enquiry, who said he was known to the security services.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said he would go "immediately" to the scene, his office said.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls ordered increased security measures at all sensitive sites in the area.
The attack, which occurred around 10:00 am local time (0800 GMT), according to local media, came nearly six months after the Islamist attacks in and around Paris that killed 17 people in January that started with a shooting at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Two Islamist brothers attacked the satirical magazine, killing 12. A policewoman and four hostages in a Jewish supermarket were also killed during the three-day attacks.
The January attacks drew record crowds onto the streets of Paris in a historic "march against terrorism".
Indian Railways starts SMS alert service for cancelled trains
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NEW DELHI: Passengers will now get text messages on their mobile phones if their scheduled trains get cancelled.
Railways has introduced a pilot project to help passengers from any inconvenience, however, the service in beginning is only available to passengers boarding trains at originating stations.
We have started a passenger-friendly service under which SMS messages would be sent to passengers informing about train cancellation in case the train in which they have booked their tickets for is cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances, a senior Railway Ministry official said.
Currently, the SMS messages are being sent to those passengers who are boarding at originating station. The service will be extended to cover en route station also at a later stage.
According to the service, the SMS will be sent to passengers' mobile numbers entered by them in reservation slips while buying tickets from PRS counters or while purchasing online e-tickets.
The cancellation information would be sent in advance to the passengers for their convenience so that it may help them plan alternative arrangement in time.
To avail this facility, passengers are advised to invariably mention their mobile numbers on the reservation slips.
The software for this service has been developed by Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), the information technological wing of the railways.
NEW DELHI: Passengers will now get text messages on their mobile phones if their scheduled trains get cancelled.Railways has introduced a pilot project to help passengers from any inconvenience, however, the service in beginning is only available to passengers boarding trains at originating stations.
We have started a passenger-friendly service under which SMS messages would be sent to passengers informing about train cancellation in case the train in which they have booked their tickets for is cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances, a senior Railway Ministry official said.
Currently, the SMS messages are being sent to those passengers who are boarding at originating station. The service will be extended to cover en route station also at a later stage.
According to the service, the SMS will be sent to passengers' mobile numbers entered by them in reservation slips while buying tickets from PRS counters or while purchasing online e-tickets.
The cancellation information would be sent in advance to the passengers for their convenience so that it may help them plan alternative arrangement in time.
To avail this facility, passengers are advised to invariably mention their mobile numbers on the reservation slips.
The software for this service has been developed by Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), the information technological wing of the railways.
World economy may be slipping into 1930s-type Great Depression: Raghuram Rajan
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LONDON: RBI governor Raghuram Rajan has asked central banks from across the world to define "new rules of the game" as he warned that the global economy may be slipping into problems similar to the Great Depression of the 1930s.
"We need rules of the game in order to effect a better solution. I think it is time to start debating what should the global rules of the game be on what is allowed in terms of central bank action," he said at a London Business School (LBS) conference here on Thursday evening.
"I am not going to venture a guess as to how we establish new rules of the game. It has to be international discussion, international consensus built over time after much research and action," Rajan said.
"But I do worry that we are slowly slipping into the kind of problems that we had in the thirties in attempts to activate growth. And, I think it's a problem for the world. It's not just a problem for the industrial countries or emerging markets, now it's a broader game," he noted.
Asked specifically about interest rate cuts from an Indian perspective, he said, "I try to shut out market reactions as far as I can. We (India) are still in a situation where we have to spur investment and I am worried more about that."
"So I shut out the asset price (hike) reaction and think more about, is this going to bring bank lending rates down and therefore channel cheaper credit into firms and then they will invest. However, the issue gets much more complicated for other markets," he said.
The RBI governor was addressing the 'perspectives' conference organised by AQR Asset Management Institute at the LBS campus on the subject of 'the central banker perspective'.
He highlighted the tremendous pressure for growth which in turn creates enormous pressure on central banks to take action.
Rajan stressed that seven years on from the economic crisis, the central banks have done a lot during as well as post-crisis.
"The question is are we now moving into the territory in trying to produce growth out of nowhere we are in fact shifting growth from each other, rather than creating growth. Of course, there is past history of this during the Great Depression when we got into competitive devaluation," he warned.
"We need rules of the game in order to effect a better solution. I think it is time to start debating what should the global rules of the game be on what is allowed in terms of central bank action," he said at a London Business School (LBS) conference here on Thursday evening.
"I am not going to venture a guess as to how we establish new rules of the game. It has to be international discussion, international consensus built over time after much research and action," Rajan said.
"But I do worry that we are slowly slipping into the kind of problems that we had in the thirties in attempts to activate growth. And, I think it's a problem for the world. It's not just a problem for the industrial countries or emerging markets, now it's a broader game," he noted.
Asked specifically about interest rate cuts from an Indian perspective, he said, "I try to shut out market reactions as far as I can. We (India) are still in a situation where we have to spur investment and I am worried more about that."
"So I shut out the asset price (hike) reaction and think more about, is this going to bring bank lending rates down and therefore channel cheaper credit into firms and then they will invest. However, the issue gets much more complicated for other markets," he said.
The RBI governor was addressing the 'perspectives' conference organised by AQR Asset Management Institute at the LBS campus on the subject of 'the central banker perspective'.
He highlighted the tremendous pressure for growth which in turn creates enormous pressure on central banks to take action.
Rajan stressed that seven years on from the economic crisis, the central banks have done a lot during as well as post-crisis.
"The question is are we now moving into the territory in trying to produce growth out of nowhere we are in fact shifting growth from each other, rather than creating growth. Of course, there is past history of this during the Great Depression when we got into competitive devaluation," he warned.
Have US tactics only helped to make ISIS more powerful?
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The "Islamic State" is stronger than it was when it was first proclaimed on 29 June last year, shortly after ISIS fighters captured much of northern and western Iraq. Its ability to go on winning victories was confirmed on 17 May this year in Iraq, when it seized Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, and again four days later in Syria, when it took Palmyra, one of the most famous cities of antiquity and at the centre of modern transport routes.
The twin victories show how ISIS has grown in strength: it can now simultaneously attack on multiple fronts, hundreds of miles apart, a capacity it did not have a year ago. In swift succession, its forces defeated the Iraqi and Syrian armies and, equally telling, neither army was able to respond with an effective counter-attack.
Supposedly these successes, achieved by ISIS during its summer offensive in 2014, should no longer be feasible in the face of air strikes by the US-led coalition. These began last August in Iraq and were extended to Syria in October, with US officials recently claiming that 4,000 air strikes had killed 10,000 ISIS fighters. Certainly, the air campaign has inflicted heavy losses on ISIS, but it has made up for these casualties by conscripting recruits within the self-declared caliphate, an area the size of Great Britain with a population of five or six million.
What makes the loss of Ramadi and Palmyra so significant is that they did not fall to surprise attacks, the means by which a few thousand ISIS fighters unexpectedly captured Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, in 2014.
That city had a garrison estimated to number about 20,000 men, though nobody knows the exact figure because the Iraqi armed forces were full of "virtual" soldiers, who did not physically exist but whose pay was pocketed by officers and government officials. Baghdad later admitted to 50,000 of these. There were, in addition, many soldiers who did exist, but kicked back at least half their salary to officers on the condition that they perform no military duties.
The "Islamic State" is stronger than it was when it was first proclaimed on 29 June last year, shortly after ISIS fighters captured much of northern and western Iraq. Its ability to go on winning victories was confirmed on 17 May this year in Iraq, when it seized Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, and again four days later in Syria, when it took Palmyra, one of the most famous cities of antiquity and at the centre of modern transport routes.The twin victories show how ISIS has grown in strength: it can now simultaneously attack on multiple fronts, hundreds of miles apart, a capacity it did not have a year ago. In swift succession, its forces defeated the Iraqi and Syrian armies and, equally telling, neither army was able to respond with an effective counter-attack.
Supposedly these successes, achieved by ISIS during its summer offensive in 2014, should no longer be feasible in the face of air strikes by the US-led coalition. These began last August in Iraq and were extended to Syria in October, with US officials recently claiming that 4,000 air strikes had killed 10,000 ISIS fighters. Certainly, the air campaign has inflicted heavy losses on ISIS, but it has made up for these casualties by conscripting recruits within the self-declared caliphate, an area the size of Great Britain with a population of five or six million.
What makes the loss of Ramadi and Palmyra so significant is that they did not fall to surprise attacks, the means by which a few thousand ISIS fighters unexpectedly captured Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, in 2014.
That city had a garrison estimated to number about 20,000 men, though nobody knows the exact figure because the Iraqi armed forces were full of "virtual" soldiers, who did not physically exist but whose pay was pocketed by officers and government officials. Baghdad later admitted to 50,000 of these. There were, in addition, many soldiers who did exist, but kicked back at least half their salary to officers on the condition that they perform no military duties.
Monsoon covers entire India ahead of schedule: Weather office
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MUMBAI: India's monsoon has covered the entire country, the weather office said on Friday, more than two weeks ahead of the normal schedule in a year that is forecast to see below average rains.
The revival of monsoon rains in the grain bowl of northwest and central regions should help speed up the sowing of main summer crops such as rice, corn, soybeans and cotton.
Over a quarter higher rainfall since the start of the June-September season has eased concerns of a first drought in six years.
Rains are vital to the farm sector, which accounts for about 15 per cent of the country's nearly $2 trillion economy.
Two-thirds of its 1.2 billion population live in rural areas. Last year, monsoon rains covered the country two days behind the schedule, hitting crop output.
The revival of monsoon rains in the grain bowl of northwest and central regions should help speed up the sowing of main summer crops such as rice, corn, soybeans and cotton.Over a quarter higher rainfall since the start of the June-September season has eased concerns of a first drought in six years.
Rains are vital to the farm sector, which accounts for about 15 per cent of the country's nearly $2 trillion economy.
Two-thirds of its 1.2 billion population live in rural areas. Last year, monsoon rains covered the country two days behind the schedule, hitting crop output.
1984 anti-Sikh riots case: No fresh FIR against Jagdish Tytler, CBI to court
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NEW DELHI: CBI on Friday told a Delhi court that no fresh FIR has been lodged against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, who has been given clean chit in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, on allegations of influencing witness and money laundering.
CBI's reply came while responding to the court's query whether the agency has registered any case against Tytler under sections 193 (punishment for false evidence), 195A (threatening a person to give false evidence) of IPC and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
"An application has been moved on behalf of victim to know from CBI as to whether an FIR or separate complaint has been registered under sections 193 and 195 of IPC and PMLA.
"In this regard question has been asked by the court to the public prosecutor. He says no separate FIR has been filed. The application stands disposed of," Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler said.
The court has now fixed the case for July 30 for filing of protest petition against CBI's third closure report giving clean chit to Tytler in the case.
Senior advocate HS Phoolka and advocate Kamna Vohra, who were representing the victims, sought four weeks time to file the protest petition.
The court had earlier asked CBI to respond to allegations that Tytler had allegedly tried to influence a witness by giving him money and sending his son abroad and also alleged hawala transaction.
During the hearing, Phoolka moved an application seeking status report from CBI as to what action it had taken on the allegations of influencing witness and hawala transaction.
On the allegation of sending witness Surinder Singh Granthi to Canada, he said documents are available with CBI.
"These two are separate offences and CBI should tell what action it has taken on these allegations. A separate case needs to be registered and action is to be taken on these two offences," Phoolka argued.
The CBI prosecutor, however, said that victims' counsel should file written arguments and the agency will reply as it was not possible to answer each and every question individually.
He said a closure report was earlier also filed by the agency and it was accepted by a magisterial court.
The order was challenged before a sessions court which had directed CBI to examine several witnesses but addresses of some of them were not available.
Allegations of influencing witness and hawala transaction had surfaced from the statement of arms dealer and navy war room leak case accused Abhishek Verma, which was recorded before the court during the last hearing.
NEW DELHI: CBI on Friday told a Delhi court that no fresh FIR has been lodged against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, who has been given clean chit in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, on allegations of influencing witness and money laundering. CBI's reply came while responding to the court's query whether the agency has registered any case against Tytler under sections 193 (punishment for false evidence), 195A (threatening a person to give false evidence) of IPC and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
"An application has been moved on behalf of victim to know from CBI as to whether an FIR or separate complaint has been registered under sections 193 and 195 of IPC and PMLA.
"In this regard question has been asked by the court to the public prosecutor. He says no separate FIR has been filed. The application stands disposed of," Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler said.
The court has now fixed the case for July 30 for filing of protest petition against CBI's third closure report giving clean chit to Tytler in the case.
Senior advocate HS Phoolka and advocate Kamna Vohra, who were representing the victims, sought four weeks time to file the protest petition.
The court had earlier asked CBI to respond to allegations that Tytler had allegedly tried to influence a witness by giving him money and sending his son abroad and also alleged hawala transaction.
During the hearing, Phoolka moved an application seeking status report from CBI as to what action it had taken on the allegations of influencing witness and hawala transaction.
On the allegation of sending witness Surinder Singh Granthi to Canada, he said documents are available with CBI.
"These two are separate offences and CBI should tell what action it has taken on these allegations. A separate case needs to be registered and action is to be taken on these two offences," Phoolka argued.
The CBI prosecutor, however, said that victims' counsel should file written arguments and the agency will reply as it was not possible to answer each and every question individually.
He said a closure report was earlier also filed by the agency and it was accepted by a magisterial court.
The order was challenged before a sessions court which had directed CBI to examine several witnesses but addresses of some of them were not available.
Allegations of influencing witness and hawala transaction had surfaced from the statement of arms dealer and navy war room leak case accused Abhishek Verma, which was recorded before the court during the last hearing.
Govt. nod for revised cost estimate of freight corridor
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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the revised cost estimate of Rs. 81,459 crore for the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Project. The Cabinet had in February 2008 approved the construction of the freight corridor.
The revised estimate includes Rs. 73,392 crore of construction costs and Rs. 8,067 crore of acquisition costs.
This cost does not include the cost of the 534 km Sonnagar-Dankuni section (in Eastern DFC), which is to be implemented through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Status: Already 75 per cent of the 4,807 hectares of land needed for the Eastern DFC has been acquired, and 85 per cent of the 5,860 hectares needed for the Western DFC has been acquired so far. Adesh Sharma, managing director of DFCCIL(Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India) recently said that he was confident of starting phased commissioning of the DFCs from 2018. Of the total 3,350 km of the DFC project, work is in progress in 360 km in EDFC and 650 km in WDFC.
What are DFCs?
With the present railway network in India becoming very congested, transportation of freight has been facing inefficiencies because of delays. To ease the overburdened network, government has envisaged dedicated freight corridors (DFCs). Of these the Eastern and Western DFCs are being implemented. They are expected to become the backbone of manufacturing sector in the country. They would be broad gauge corridors and fully electrified.
Western DFC:
- The Western DFC starts from JNPT Mumbai and passes through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and terminates at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh.
- The total length will be about 1,483 km.
- The Western DFC is projected to carry 161 million tonnes by 2021 and 284 million tonnes by 2036.
- The Western DFC has secured a loan of 645.173 billion yen (around Rs.45,434 crore) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency
Eastern DFC:
- The Eastern DFC starts from Sahnewal near Ludhiana in Punjab and passes through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand and terminates at Dankuni in West Bengal.
- The total length is about 1,856 km.
- The Eastern DFC is expected to carry around 153 million tonnes of cargo by 2021-22. This is set to increase to 251 million tonnes by 2036-37.
- The Eastern DFC has secured a loan of $2.725 billion (around Rs.17,327 crore) from the World Bank
The corridors will be connected at Khurja junction in UP, near to Delhi.
Requirement
- For the speedy delivery of goods across the country by having a dedicated corridor exclusively for freight. A freight consignment today takes two to three to move between Delhi and Mumbai. After completion of DFC, the time will be reduced to less than 24 hours.
- The average speed of trains will increase to 70 km per hour against 25 km per hour now. The unit cost of transport is also expected to reduce 40 per cent making DFC more economical than other modes of transport.
- WDFC will involve movement of double-stack containers with electric traction for the first time in the world.
- This will also help in improvement of railways’ share in transport from 36 per cent.
- These Projects will significantly reduce transportation cost and benefit power plants, mines, ports, and boost trade and industry.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the revised cost estimate of Rs. 81,459 crore for the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Project. The Cabinet had in February 2008 approved the construction of the freight corridor.
The revised estimate includes Rs. 73,392 crore of construction costs and Rs. 8,067 crore of acquisition costs.
This cost does not include the cost of the 534 km Sonnagar-Dankuni section (in Eastern DFC), which is to be implemented through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Status: Already 75 per cent of the 4,807 hectares of land needed for the Eastern DFC has been acquired, and 85 per cent of the 5,860 hectares needed for the Western DFC has been acquired so far. Adesh Sharma, managing director of DFCCIL(Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India) recently said that he was confident of starting phased commissioning of the DFCs from 2018. Of the total 3,350 km of the DFC project, work is in progress in 360 km in EDFC and 650 km in WDFC.
What are DFCs?
With the present railway network in India becoming very congested, transportation of freight has been facing inefficiencies because of delays. To ease the overburdened network, government has envisaged dedicated freight corridors (DFCs). Of these the Eastern and Western DFCs are being implemented. They are expected to become the backbone of manufacturing sector in the country. They would be broad gauge corridors and fully electrified.
Western DFC:
- The Western DFC starts from JNPT Mumbai and passes through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and terminates at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh.
- The total length will be about 1,483 km.
- The Western DFC is projected to carry 161 million tonnes by 2021 and 284 million tonnes by 2036.
- The Western DFC has secured a loan of 645.173 billion yen (around Rs.45,434 crore) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency
Eastern DFC:
- The Eastern DFC starts from Sahnewal near Ludhiana in Punjab and passes through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand and terminates at Dankuni in West Bengal.
- The total length is about 1,856 km.
- The Eastern DFC is expected to carry around 153 million tonnes of cargo by 2021-22. This is set to increase to 251 million tonnes by 2036-37.
- The Eastern DFC has secured a loan of $2.725 billion (around Rs.17,327 crore) from the World Bank
The corridors will be connected at Khurja junction in UP, near to Delhi.
Requirement
- For the speedy delivery of goods across the country by having a dedicated corridor exclusively for freight. A freight consignment today takes two to three to move between Delhi and Mumbai. After completion of DFC, the time will be reduced to less than 24 hours.
- The average speed of trains will increase to 70 km per hour against 25 km per hour now. The unit cost of transport is also expected to reduce 40 per cent making DFC more economical than other modes of transport.
- WDFC will involve movement of double-stack containers with electric traction for the first time in the world.
- This will also help in improvement of railways’ share in transport from 36 per cent.
- These Projects will significantly reduce transportation cost and benefit power plants, mines, ports, and boost trade and industry.
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