RLY PROJECTS WORTH ~4 CR TO COME UP IN PM’S VARANASI

NEWDELHI: A slew of projects are coming up in Varanasi, Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency, with a number of construction activities going on all around.

The Gorakhpur-based Northeastern Railway zone is implementing 53 projects worth ~3,940.02 crore in Varanasi and the adjoining district of Ghazipur – represented by the minister of state for railways Manoj Sinha.

A coach washing pit is coming up at one place, while a diesel electrical multiple unit shed is being constructed somewhere else. “Long pending capacity enhancement schemes are now at the take-off stage,” said VK Srivastava, the Varanasi-based Diesel Locomotive Works’ controller of stores. The first lot of five “dual-mode locomotives” is scheduled for roll-out by March next year, while the REMMLOT will also be shortly unveiled, said Yogesh Mohan, chief quality assurance manager.

The 4,500 horsepower dualmode locos will operate under pure electric traction where possible, and use the diesel engines to extend the journeys along non-electrified sections. “Such locos will reduce operational challenges and transit time for passenger and goods trains that link the main rail lines with the branch lines in the remote areas,” said AK Singh, the unit’s chief design engineer.

Such locos have been in operation in countries, including France, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain and Switzerland.