nd str and n rastr t re 9.31
Development Scheme) – a centrally sponsored IR is installing solar panels on rooftops
scheme (CSS) with a Central grant between 60 of coaches for the train lighting system.
to 85 per cent. Its core aim is to attain 24x7 Solar plants of 50 MW to come up on the
power supply in the country – to be achieved rooftops of IR buildings.
by strengthening sub-transmission network, Diamond Quadrilateral network of High
metering, IT application, Customer Care Speed Rail connecting major metros
Services, provisioning of solar panels, reduction (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai)
in the AT&C of the state DISCOMs. This to come up.
scheme subsumed the existing scheme, R-APDRP
High Speed Train Project: The feasibility report
(Restructured Accelerated Power Development
of the Japan International Cooperation Agency
and Reforms Programme) of 2008.
(JICA) was approved by the GoI in December
2015. A new special purpose vehicle with 50
raIlways per cent equity participation from the Ministry
Indian Railways (IR) is faced with a number of Railways and 50 per cent from the state
of challenges. For speedy capacity creation, IR governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat will be
recognizes the importance of enhancing project set up to implement the project. Major features
execution capabilities. Considering the enormity of the project are as given below:
of the resources required for plan investment in Project completion cost is approximately
rail infrastructure, and given the limitation of Rs. 97,636 crore (including price
public resources, efforts are on by IR to generate escalation, interest during construction
sufficient internal surplus, and tap innovative and import duties) – average per km cost
methods of financing, to meet these needs. of construction works out to be Rs. 140
The focus is on prioritising investments in crore. To be completed in 7 years.
important areas like dedicated freight corridors, Japan’s ODA (official development
high speed rail, high capacity rolling stock, assistance) will be Rs. 79, 165 crore (81
last mile rail linkages and port connectivity, per cent of project cost) for 50 years
and attracting private and FDI investments to with 0.1 per cent interest and a 15-year
supplement available resources. Major initiatives moratorium.
taken by the GoI are as given below: Total length of the proposed corridor will
Various measures to improve passenger be 508 km between the Bandra Kurla
amenities, infrastructure and services, and complex in Mumbai and Sabarmati/
initiatives under Make in India, freight Ahmedabad in Gujarat – to cover 12
initiative, resource mobilisation initiative stations with a maximum design speed of
and green initiatives, etc. High-speed 350 kmph (with a 320 kmph operating
communication network put in place speed).
with the help of 48,818 route kilometres. Sixty-four per cent of the corridor will
Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, has be constructed on embankment, 25 per
developed a first-of-its-kind stainless cent via duct and 6 per cent tunnel, with
steel three-phase energy-efficient AC-AC a standard gauge.
transmission 1600 HP DEMU train set. To have 10-car trains (750 seats) in the
Mobile application for freight operations beginning and 16-car trains (1200 seats)
– Parichaalan – has been introduced. in the future. Thirty-five trains per day