Andhra Government calls for dedicated freight corridor connectivity to its ports

With an aim to transport millions of tonnes of cargo in a cost-effective manner, the Andhra Pradesh government has requested the Railways to extend its dedicated freight corridor to ports in the state. Mentioning how significant the freight-only corridors could become for goods transport, NP Ramakrishna Reddy, CEO, Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board 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 ensure effective and pollution-free transportation of the cargo, besides being cost-effective. “For this purpose, 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. In his letter, 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 DFC connectivity will catalyse the overall development of the ports.