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Mohan Padmanabhan

KOLKATA, Feb. 14

CAPEXIL has sought expeditious completion of the long-pending 155-km-long Daitari-Keonjhar-Banspani (DKB) railway line project for increasing iron ore exports from the mineral rich eastern region in a big way. In a recent memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister and the Union Railway and Finance Ministers, the council has pointed out that the proposed 155-km DKB line should be completed soon in the national interest, both for the sake of the country's exports and development of the backward Keonjhar-Banspani region.

Talking to Business Line, Mr Shiv Kumar Jain, Chairman of the Bulk Minerals & Ores panel of the council, said if it was a problem of funds crunch, the exporters and other stakeholders were willing to lend a supporting hand to the railways for early completion of the project.

The original project cost, envisaged at Rs 242 crore, has already escalated by nearly three 3 times owing to delays, according to the council. Besides iron ore traffic, additional potential is possible through coal via Vizag and Paradeep ports for southern power houses, and also for captive power plants in the area. Mr Jain said, when completed, the DKB line will link Banspani with Tomka, cutting the rail distance between the mineral-rich region of North Orissa/South Jharkhand and Paradeep port by some 335 km. He said work has stagnated with only a 10-km stretch from Banspani to Jururi completed in November 2000. Work is said to be in progress in most of the minor bridges, apart from the 200-odd that has been completed.

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