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TVS ILP ALLOCATES `125 CRORE FOR NEW PROGRESS HALTS ON KARNATAKA-ANDHRA RAILWAY LINE
WAREHOUSING FACILITY IN CUTTACK The completion of the Tumakuru-Rayadurg railway line, crucial
TVS ILP, a prominent player in the warehousing sector and part for bolstering connectivity between Bengaluru and Ballari, faces
of the TVS Mobility Group, has commenced the construction of delays as the onus falls on the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh INFRASTRUCTURE
a cutting-edge warehouse in Cuttack, Odisha, signaling its foray governments, according to recent statements from the Centre.
into eastern markets. Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighted in a
Spanning 24 acres, the upcoming facility will feature two parliamentary reply that the project’s advancement relies on a
expansive warehouses covering a total of 5 lakh square feet. It 50:50 cost-sharing basis between the Government of India and
is designed to serve various sectors including FMCG, FMCD, 3PL, the state governments of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. With
and e-commerce. Strategically located at the intersection of the an estimated project cost of `2,404 crore, significant expenditure
Mumbai and Chennai-Kolkata highways (off NH 55), the site offers has already been incurred, including the commissioning of the
excellent connectivity to the Paradip port and key areas across 83 km-long Rayadurga-Doddahalli section. However, further
the nation. progress necessitates expedited land acquisition efforts and
With an investment of approximately `125 crore, TVS ILP aims to financial contributions from both states. The Rayadurg-Tumakuru
complete the project by December 2024. The logistics park in project aims to offer an alternative rail route from Bengaluru to
Cuttack is anticipated to create over 110 direct job opportunities Guntakal and Ballari, aiming to alleviate congestion on existing
and between 500 to 1,000 indirect employment opportunities in routes. However, land acquisition challenges persist, particularly
the region, according to a company release. in Andhra Pradesh, where required land parcels are yet to be
Manikandan Ramachandran, COO of TVS ILP, highlighted the acquired. The AP government’s reluctance to honor the cost-
significant growth potential of the Choudwar Industrial Estate and sharing agreement, specifically concerning land acquisition
emphasized that the new facility aims to facilitate businesses costs, has raised concerns, potentially jeopardizing the project’s
in meeting the rising demand from the eastern region of India. timeline. Railways assert that projects of such magnitude cannot
He also reiterated the company’s commitment to establishing solely rely on their funds, emphasizing the need for collaborative
industrial parks approximately every 400 km across the country. efforts. Despite these challenges, Minister Vaishnaw emphasized
In addition to the Cuttack project, TVS ILP expressed its dedication the multifaceted nature of railway project completion, highlighting
to exploring similar ventures in other Tier-2 towns in Odisha, the necessity of prompt land acquisition, regulatory clearances,
underscoring its position as the first national logistics park player and environmental considerations. Despite constraints, efforts are
to enter the state. underway to expedite project execution.

BENGALURU SUBURBAN RAILWAY ADVANCES AS SWR GOREGAON-BORIVLI HARBOUR LINE TENDERS
LEASES LAND TO K-RIDE FOR CORRIDOR-4 IMMINENT, OPERATIONS SET FOR 2027-28
Progress was made recently with the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Western Railway (WR) has unveiled plans to extend the harbour line
Project (BSRP) as the South Western Railway (SWR) leased 114.472 by 8km from Goregaon to Borivli in two phases, with a completion
acres of land for Corridor-4 from Heelalige to Rajanukunte in the deadline set for 2027-28. This strategic extension aims to alleviate
city, sources revealed. The Railways handed over the land to the congestion along the Andheri-Borivli section, known as one of the
Rail Infrastructure Development Company-Karnataka Limited most crowded routes on WR. Tenders for the `825-crore project
(K-RIDE) for the execution of Corridor-4, also known as the ‘Kanaka are slated to be floated in May, with anticipated commencement
Line’. Additionally, a lease agreement for revised Railway land, of work around June 15. According to a senior WR official, the first
reduced from 157.07 acres to 85.707 acres for Corridor-2 (Mallige phase will encompass a 2km stretch between Goregaon and
Line), was signed on the same day, according to sources speaking Malad, scheduled to be operational by 2026-27. The subsequent
to PTI. This land transfer is anticipated to accelerate the pace of phase will cover a 5km extension from Malad to Borivli, with
the project, which has been progressing slowly. completion projected for 2027-28.
On February 9, the Karnataka government and the KfW Currently operating between CSMT and Goregaon, the harbour
Development Bank of Germany inked a Memorandum of line witnessed its last extension from Andheri to Goregaon in
Understanding (MoU) to finance the BSRP project. The bank will 2018. WR has initiated preliminary work, including geotechnical
provide a loan of `4,561 crore at an annual interest rate of 4% for investigations, topographic surveys, and acquiring details of
20 years. K-RIDE officials indicated that the loan amount will fund existing structures. A total of 1,900sqm of land across 20 locations
various components of the project, including Corridor-3 Station needs to be acquired, primarily from private owners. The process
and viaduct, Corridor-4 station work, Depot-1 solar panel, and of private land acquisition has been initiated, affecting 24 private
security equipment. buildings along the corridor.
This loan aims to address critical infrastructure needs. During the Due to space constraints, the station at Malad will be elevated,
foundation stone laying ceremony of BSRP in Bengaluru in June making it the only platform at such a height along the route. Other
2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed optimism that “what stations between Goregaon and Borivli will remain at ground level.
had not happened in the past 40 years would be completed in the Additionally, the corridor will feature a ramp from the western side
next 40 months.” Presently, Karnataka Infrastructure Development of the existing tracks after heading north of Goregaon. A flyover at
Minister M B Patil has set a new deadline of December 2027 for Malad is estimated to cost `145 crore, while the elevated station
the project’s completion. is expected to incur `65 crore in expenses.

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