Chiplun-Karad rail line to be ready in 5 years

MUMBAI: The Konkan Railway on Sunday signed an MoU with Shapoorji Pallonji & Co (SPCPL) for construction of a 103 km-long railway line between Chiplun and Karad. Expected to be completed in five years, the project will boost industries in the hinterland of Maharashtra by providing them connectivity to port.
“The state government has also initiated development of sea ports along the Konkan coast such as those at Rewas, Dighi, Jaigarh, Angre, Vijaydurg, Redi and the new railway line will facilitate speedy transportation of the export/import cargo to and from these ports,” a senior railway official said.
Sources said the new railway line is expected to generate direct 5,000 jobs per year during its construction and several more indirect jobs.
The MoU was signed in the presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and railway minister Suresh Prabhu. The Konkan Railway (Indian Railway) will have 26% equity in the proposed SPV for the public-private partnership (PPP) project.
A KR official said: “The railway line, which will be constructed at a cost of around Rs 3195.60 crore, will facilitate overall development of Western Maharashtra and the Konkan region through easy and economical movement of raw material and finished products besides providing convenient transport system to the people of these two regions. Moreover, the traffic through the port and the connected railway line will facilitate rapid growth of these regions.”