NMDC ltd, the country's single largest producer and exporter of iron ore, is planning to construct a 'rapid iron ore loading system' with a capacity of 14 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at its Kirandul complex in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, officials informed.
The project also comprises construction of a ‘Merry Go Round’ (MGR) railway track.
The project for doubling of Railway line between Kirandul and Jagdalpur in Chhatisgarh’s insurgency ridden Bastar region is expected to be complete by January 2019, official sources informed.
Notably, NMDC had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Railways on December 21, 2012 and the aforesaid project would be helpful in significantly augmenting evacuation capacity of NMDC’s Bailadila Sector mines by rail from the existing 28 MTPA to 40 MTPA of iron ore.
NMDC had deposited an amount of `150 crores with East Coast Railway and the expenditure incurred as on March 31, 2015 was `132.00 crore, official sources informed.
For execution of the project, the Railways has divided the 150 km length of doubling work into three Sections namely, Jagdalpur to Silakjori 45.50 km, Kirandul to Gidam 52.23 km and Silakjori to Gidam 52.73 km.
Notably, the `2000 crore Rowghat to Jagdalpur railway line would also pass through heavily insurgency infested Kondagaon and Narayanpur districts of Bastar division in Chhattisgarh, officials stated.
The project is a joint venture between Chhattisgarh Government, NMDC, SAIl and IRCON.