Question : WAREHOUSING FACILITIES ALONG RAILWAY SIDES

(a) whether the Railways propose to have warehousing facilities along the railway sides at different places in the country to handle the goods services more efficiently;

(b) if so, whether there is proposal to be done with the strategic partnership of the Central Warehousing Corporation of India;

(c) if so, the locations where this facility is proposed to be made available and the number of warehouses proposed to be constructed with the capacity of each of such warehouse and the total amount involved in the construction of these warehouses; and

(d) the time by which these warehouses are likely to be ready?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI BANDARU DATTATRAYA)

(a) : Yes, Sir.

(b) to (d) : As announced in the Railway Budget 2003-2004, Railways intend to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Central Warehousing Corporation to develop warehousing complexes at 22 locations. Developments of Rail side warehousing facilities by other parties is also permitted. As the proposal is in initial stages, it is not feasible for Railways to give details of locations along with numbers, capacity, cost and likely time of construction of the warehouses.