Tata Projects begins work on Eastern corridor, eyes more bids

Tata Projects, which has commenced construction on the first 343 km stretch on the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), planned to bid for the remaining portion, as well as the Western Corridor.

Tata-Aldesa, a 50:50 joint venture between Tata Projects and Spanish firm Aldesa, has been awarded contract to construct the 337 km double track line and 14 km single line between Bhaupur and Khurja in UP on the Eastern Corridor stretch, which is funded by the World Bank.

"The World Bank has sanctioned $975 million (about Rs 5,300 crore) for this complete project. This will be a design-build lump sum contract and will be executed within a timeframe of 4 years," the infrastructure arm of the Tata Group said.

DFC is an ambitious programme of the Centre to allow seamless movement of rail freight traffic by constructing two dedicated railheads.

"We have commenced work on this Rs 3,300-crore project (first stretch of eastern DFC) and expect to complete it by mid-2017," Tata Projects managing director Vinayak Deshpande told reporters on Thursday.

"We expect that tenders for the other stretches on the Eastern Corridor will also be invited soon. We wish to participate in these projects," he said.