WDFC: Indian Railways Successfully Completes Trial Of First Double Stack Container From Mundra Port to CONCOR MMLP In Rajasthan

A new milestone in seamless connectivity with Gujarat Ports was achieved on Sunday by DFC (Dedicated Freight Corridor) with the first double stack container train run between Mundra port in Gujarat to CONCOR(Container Corporation OF India) Multi Modal Logistics park (MMLP) at Kathuwas in Rajasthan.

MMLP AT Kathuwas is the largest of its kind in India spread over around 283 acres of land serving container Port Terminals of JNPT, Mundra, Pipavav, Hazira, other ports and all terminals of CONCOR spread across the length and breadth of the country. MMLP, Kathuwas has approximate 1,00,000 Sq. Mtrs, of concrete block paving for rail handling and container stacking.

MMLP Kathuwas is envisaged to be a major container trans-shipment hub for the ICDs of the Northern Belt and will be connected by Rail & Road to the smaller nodes in a Hub & Spoke Model, thus, promoting an integrated development of the Road & Rail network. The MMLP will serve a Catchment area of approximately 150-200 Kms. radius which includes South West Haryana specially, Gurgaon, Manesar, Rewari & Northern Rajasthan with focus on Bhiwadi & Alwar.

The double stack container freight train with a total tonnage of 2480 ton from Mundra Port arrived at New Palanpur station of the DFC on Sunday morning.

The rake contained 178 containers with 5 destined for New Kathuwas
in Rajasthan (NCR), 78 for Dhandari Kalan railway station in Ludhiana, Punjab, 90 for Dadri (NCR) in Uttar Pradesh and 5 for Panitola Railway station in Dangar Chuk Assam respectively.

The rake from Mundra Port to Khatuwas was released on June 19. Major
commodities coming as imports are glycerine, softwood pulp, base paper, aluminium scrap, spare parts, electric parts, machine, compressor, spray parts, knitting machine, polyester fabric. The origin of the major containers are France, Mexico, Italy, Japan, Germany, United Arab Emirates.

The linkage provides a much needed access to the northern hinterland of India through the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. Recently DFC has been working hard to add more economic linkages to the Western DFC.

After removal of diamonds and correction of gradients on the 353 km Madar Palanpur section, three Cement Sidings had been seamlessly connected helping boost the economy of the region as well as the cement sector, a vital input tool for the infrastructure industry.

According to a senior DFCC official, the successful trial run of double stack container trains from New Palanpur to NCR will usher in a new era of transportation.

DFC lines are equipped with Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) for safe and efficient operation and there are no road crossings.

DFC is also connected with Multi Modal Logistic Hubs and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor.

There are provisions of water conservation through rain water harvesting at all DFC stations, rail overbridges and rail underbridges.

The official said the DFC would decongest the existing railway network.