Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed an agreement with the Government of India to provide Official Development Assistance (ODA) Loan of 108,456 million Japanese Yen (approximately INR 6,000 crores) for procurement of 200 Electric Locomotives for the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) Project. The ODA loan's conditions are very concessional, i.e. JPY LIBOR + 10 basis points interest rate (Japanese Yen London Inter-Bank Offered Rate + 0.1%) for project activities and 30 years of repayment period (including 10 years of grace period).
The ODA loan agreement was signed between Mr. Takema Sakamoto, Chief Representative, JICA India Office and Mr. S. Selvakumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Takema Sakamoto, Chief Representative, JICA India Office said, “JICA is fully committed towards the construction and completion of this initial logistical infrastructure of the DMIC. The DFC project will enhance freight capacity, making it a revolution for the industrial corridor. JICA will continue to play an important role in the development of WDFC and will provide necessary assistance in the near future as well.”
The JICA assisted WDFC Project aims to cope with the increase of freight transport demand in India, thereby promoting comprehensive regional economic development along the freight corridor. Inter-modal logistic handling systems are expected to improve and modernise through WDFC. The new 6-AxlesElectric Locomotives of 9000 Horse Power(HP)capacity, together with the dedicated railways, will enhance current freight capacity, catering increase in container traffic between the international container ports on the western coast and inland demand areas. The Loan will also support the construction of a Depot at Rewari, Haryana for maintenance of the Locomotives. The supplier of the locomotives is also expected to provide transfer of technology for indigenization.
The Ministry of Railways (MoR), Government of India would be responsible for procurement and maintenance of these electric locomotives, while Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) would be responsible for operating them. JICA has so far extended concessional ODA loans of 443 billion Japanese Yen (approximately INR 26,000 crores) for development of the Western DFC Project in India.
The Project will focus on constructing approximately 1,500 kms track of the Western Corridor between Delhi and Mumbai, connecting major cities in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana, as well as introducing new electric locomotives capable of high-speed, high-capacity transportation. By meeting the high rate of growth expected in freight transportation and optimizing distribution networks, the Project will make a far-reaching contribution towards India’s economic development.
JICA is currently supporting the construction of civil &track works, electrification including signalling & telecommunication system for the WDFC between Delhi and Mumbai.
The Project is an important part of “Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) initiative”, which is a Japanese-Indian collaboration for comprehensive infrastructure development to create India’s largest industrial belt by linking the industrial parks and harbors of the six states between Delhi and Mumbai in order to promote foreign export and direct investment, particularly those in Japan. Under the DMIC initiative, plans are also being implemented to create industrial parks and logistics bases with well-developed infrastructures in the area 150 kms on either sides of the Western Corridor.
