"95% of Dedicated Freight Corridor on Track for March 2024 Completion"

In a significant development in India's infrastructure landscape, nearly 400 kilometers of the originally proposed Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) spanning from Bihar's Sonnagar to West Bengal's Andal is set to undergo direct development by the Ministry of Railways. While the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) boasts full operational status across its 1,337-kilometer stretch, approximately 70% of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) is nearing completion.

The EDFC, a colossal project with an investment of Rs. 51,000 crore, is already up and running. The entire DFC project, encompassing routes in Western India and additional infrastructure components such as multi-modal parks and train sidings, carries a total price tag of Rs. 124,000 crore.

According to Ravindra Kumar Jain, the Managing Director of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL), a remarkable 95% of the revised routes, covering a total distance of 2,843 kilometers, including both EDFC and WDFC, are on track for completion by March 2024.

Currently, almost 84% of the existing DFC route is operational, reflecting substantial progress in the corridor's construction. A section of the corridor, the Sonnagar to Dankuni stretch, subsequently revised to Andal in West Bengal, will now be directly developed by the Ministry of Railways. However, there has been a slight slowdown in the construction of a 100-kilometer stretch from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to Vaitarana in Mumbai, attributed to various reasons. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that nearly 50% of this 100-kilometer stretch will be ready for commissioning by the end of the fiscal year 2024.

Jain did not specify the exact reasons for the delay but mentioned "topographical issues" as a contributing factor. The EDFC, which has made substantial progress, is ready for commissioning.

On the western side of the project, connections between the Dedicated Freight Corridor and Gujarat's major ports, including Kandla, Pipavav, and Mundra, have already been established. The WDFC will cover a 1,506-kilometer route, connecting states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. On the other hand, the EDFC, spanning 1,337 kilometers, passes through states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar. Both the WDFC and EDFC are set to converge at Khurja in Uttar Pradesh, further enhancing India's freight transportation infrastructure.

The progress made in the Dedicated Freight Corridors project signifies a significant step forward in bolstering the nation's logistical capabilities and supporting economic growth and development. As the target completion date of March 2024 draws near, the country anticipates the positive impact of these corridors on trade and commerce.

HBL