PM Modi to inaugurate world’s first double-stack container train

CHANDIGARH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the New Rewari-New Madar section of the western dedicated Freight Corridor stretching 306 kilometres (km), on Thursday, January 7, through video conferencing. Modi will also launch double stack long-haul 1.5 km long container train from New Ateli to New Kishangarh during the same event.

According to an official release from the PM’s office, the corridor to be launched on Thursday, January 7, is situated in Haryana and Rajasthan and connects districts such as Mahendragarh, Rewari, Jaipur, Ajmer, Sikar, Nagaur, and Alwar. PMO also stated that the corridor consists of nine newly constructed stations in which six are crossing stations namely, New Dabla, New Bhagega, New Sri Madhopur, New Pachar Malikpur, New Sakun and New Kishangarh, while the other three in New Rewari, New Ateli and New Phulera are junction stations.

The PMO statement added that the opening of the corridor will benefit many industries in Rewari and many areas of Haryana and Rajasthan. This section will also establish uninterrupted connectivity with the western ports of Kandla, Pipavav, Mundhra, and Dahej situated in Gujarat.

The statement also emphasized that the double-stack long container train operation is first such in the world. It will have an upgraded axle load of 25 tonnes and will be able to carry four times in terms of container units compared to the present-day traffic on Indian Railways.