Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DCCIL) has awarded the AIL-ATSA joint venture (JV) an Rs15bn ($233m) systems contract for the 343km section of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) from Bhaupur to Khurja.
The AIL-ATSA JV comprises Alstom India (AIL) and Alstom Transport SA (ATSA).
The contract includes design and construction of electrification, signalling, telecommunications, buildings and other associated works, in addition to installation of automatic signalling, electronic interlockings, train detection using multi-section digital axle counters (MSDAC), train management system, OFC-based communication system and GSM-R.
The project is funded by the World Bank and the contract has been awarded through its International Competitive Bidding process.
The electrification work includes traction power supply, overhead equipment (OHE) and installation of the Scada for the 2X25kV AC system.
“The contract includes design and construction of electrification, signalling, telecommunications, buildings and other associated works.”
The project also includes the construction of station buildings, an operations control centre (OCC), maintenance depots and residential quarters.
The Bhaupur-Khurja section of the Eastern DFC will have ten freight stations located between 35km and 40km apart, four of which will provide connections to the existing Indian Railways infrastructure.
The freight corridors are designed for 1,500m-long, 13,000t trains and 32.5t axleloads, although the line’s axleload will initially be limited to 25t. The trains will operate at a maximum speed of 100km/h, as well as improve the present average speed of 25km/h on Indian Railway to 65km/h.
The civilwork contract is already awarded and construction is currently underway on the Bhaupur-Khurja section, which is scheduled to be completed in 2018.
