PM Modi Inaugurates 77-km Western DFC Section for the Nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the dedication of the 77-km New Bhandu-New Sanand section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) to the nation on Monday. This new section is expected to facilitate the faster transportation of goods from ports and manufacturing hubs in the region. The transition of 60 goods trains from passenger rail routes to the freight corridor has led to quicker movement of passenger trains.

A senior official from the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) mentioned that the travel time of the Ahmedabad-Delhi Rajdhani Express has been reduced by nearly one hour.

The newly inaugurated DFC section enhances connectivity with major ports in Gujarat such as Pipavav, Porbandar, and Jamnagar with Eastern and Northern India, reducing transit time for Exim traffic. It also improves connectivity with freight terminals in Viramgam, Jakhwada, Detroj, Linch, and freight loading centers in the Jamnagar area.

The 77-km section features 19 major bridges, 105 minor bridges, five rail flyovers, 81 road under bridges (Eliminating Level Crossings), and six road over bridges. Additionally, there are 24 km of connecting rail lines. The total project cost for this section is approximately Rs 3,184 crore.

The DFC enables the operation of heavy and long-haul trains with a 25-tonne axle load on bridges and formations designed for a 32.5-tonne axle load, a first in India. The double line electrified track will allow the DFC to transport more freight at higher speeds.

Furthermore, this new section will provide swift connectivity to the dairy industry in Anand, the oil refinery in Jamnagar, and access to the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor.

The DFC has achieved impressive average speeds, with the highest recorded at 99.82 kmph.

ET