Mumbai: Work on the first phase of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor will soon begin with the Railways finalising the alignment of the 917-km-long route with about 20 changes.

The first phase of the project is estimated to cost about Rs25,000 crore, of which 85 per cent of funding costs will come from Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

The western corridor would cover a total distance of 1,426 km from Rewari to JN Port Trust, out of which work will begin between Rewari and Vadodara in the first phase, sources said.
 
The deviations have been made to avoid areas of heavy settlement and railway junctions between Rewari and Vadodara, they pointed out.

Changes in the route have been made at many places, including Bangugram, Makrena, Mahesana, Palanpur, Marwar and Phurela to avoid heavy displacements, the ministry said.

The Railways will run new generation double stack container trains with a pantograph height of 7.5 metres, which will enable double stack containers on flat wagons on the electrified route, sources said.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation is currently conducting an environment and social impact study of the first phase project.

The report is likely to be submitted by November and after that a loan agreement will be signed with JBIC, sources said.

The two dedicated freight corridors – western and Eastern - would link the ports of western India and the ports and mines of eastern India to Delhi and Punjab.

The projects will necessitate availability of human resources in large number and increase opportunities for trade and business. It would also call for imparting knowledge-based training and development of educational and training institutions of medical, technical and general education.