HRIDC hires RITES for 5,600 Cr Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor
Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC) – a joint venture of the Haryana Government and the Indian Ministry of Railways, has entered into an agreement with RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) for providing general consultancy services for Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) from Palwal to Sonipat.
On behalf of Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, the agreement was signed between Mr. Narinder D Chumber, Director (Projects and Planning), and Mr. Piyush Kansal, Executive Director, RITES.
Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) connecting Palwal to Sonipat
The Central Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs constituted under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15th September, 2020 approved the 121.742 Km long dual electrified broad gauge line of Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor from Palwal to Sonipat at an estimated cost of INR 5,617.69 Crore. HORC will carry both freight and passenger traffic.
In addition to reducing load on passenger and goods trains to and from Delhi, the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor once completed, should greatly contribute to economic development of the region and attract multinational companies to set up manufacturing units.
Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) will connect Palwal to Sonipat via Sohna, Manesar and Kharkhouda. It will provide seamless connectivity to Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) at Prithala station and to Indian Railways at Palwal, Patli, Sultanpur, Asaudha and Harsana Kalan stations.
This Rail Corridor project is being funded by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and shall be completed in five years. Once completed, it will transport 20,000 passengers per day and 50 MTPA (Million Tonne per Annum) of cargo.
About HRIDC: Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HRIDC) was set up on 22 August 2017 by the Ministry of Railways (Govt. of India).
State Government of Haryana and Ministry of Railways hold 51% and 49% shares respectively in HRIDC. HRIDC was incorporated to develop rail infrastructure in the state of Haryana. Some other projects of HRIDC include Elevated Railway track at Kurukshetra, Jind-Hansi New Railway Line, Karnal-Yamunanagar New Railway Line, Hisar Airport-Raipur Haryana New Railway Line.