Government plans Rail Corp for major ports

The government plans to set up a Railway Corporation exclusively to build rail connectivity to 12 major ports. According to Nitin Gadkari, Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister, every port will have some equity in the company. Gadkari said shipping sector development would be his utmost priority. “We have already taken a decision that we are going to increase the capacity of our ports,” he said. The Railway Corporation, once set up, will implement all planned rail links to the 12 ports. After connectivity with ports, the Railway Corporation would ensure “goods traffic by railway,” he said. Gadkari also said that the shipping sector and inland waterways were crucial and a new bill which will vest power with the Shipping Ministry for converting any river into waterway was ready. The development comes in the wake of ports facing problems in rail connectivity. Waterways would be a much cheaper mode of transport, barely costing 50 paisa for a kilometer in comparison to Re 1 by railway and Rs 1.5 through highways.