Thaindian News

Anara (West Bengal), Oct 31 (IANS) The Indian Railways Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with power utility NTPC to set up a 1,320 MW captive plant at Adra in Purulia district of West Bengal.

“Along with NTPC we are setting up a thermal power plant at Adra. This power plant will be a matter of pride for whole country,” said Mamata Banerjee, addressing the inaugural programme here in this economically backward district.

The project is intended to augment the railway’s internal power generation to meet its electricity requirement.

The railways’ power requirement is expected to go up to 4,500 MW by the end of the 12th Plan from the current 3,500 MW. The two-unit captive power unit will help it provide power more reliable and cost effective terms, railway officials said.

This plant will employ super critical technology, which is more environment friendly. It will come up on railway land.

“It is the product of railway land and NTPC’s merit. It will be completed in due time,” said Banerjee said.

Currently, the Railways and NTPC are jointly setting up a 1,000 MW thermal power plant at Nabinagar in Bihar.

Banerjee also laid the foundation stone for Coach Mid-Life Rehabilitation (MLR) workshop here.

This will be the Railways’ second such factory after Bhopal. The workshop will help improve the residual service life of coaches and refurbish the interiors.

Banerjee sought poeople’s cooperation in implementing the project, saying that once the projects are completed people from Purulia would not have to go to far-flung places like Mumbai or Rajasthan in search of employment.

She also announced additional stoppages for various trains in the district.