Why in the News?

India’s flagship freight rail infrastructure project — the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) — is nearing full commissioning.

About the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Project:

• Overview: It is a flagship railway initiative by the Ministry of Railways to modernise and streamline freight movement in India.
• Launch: The foundation stone was laid in 2006 by PM Dr. Manmohan Singh.
• Implementing Agency: It is implemented by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd. (DFCCIL), a Special Purpose Vehicle established in October 2006.
• Objective: The main aim is to develop high-capacity, high-speed freight-only rail corridors to decongest passenger routes and improve logistics efficiency.
• Investment Size: With a total estimated cost of ₹1.25 lakh crore, the DFC is among India’s largest rail infrastructure investments.
• Corridor Coverage:

1. 1. Eastern DFC (EDFC): Spans 1,337 km from Sonnagar (Bihar) to Sahnewal (Punjab) — fully operational.
   2. Western DFC (WDFC): Stretches 1,506 km from JNPT (Mumbai) to Dadri (UP) — 93% complete, to be commissioned by Dec 2025.

• Need for DFCs: The project was necessitated by overuse of the Golden Quadrilateral, which carries over 50% of freight on just 16% of India’s rail routes.
• Freight Transport Target: The goal is to increase the rail share of freight to 45% by 2030 as part of the National Rail Plan.

Key Features of the DFC:

• Dedicated Infrastructure: The DFCs feature electrified double-line tracks, exclusively for freight, separating them from passenger traffic.
• Load and Speed Capacity: Built to handle 32.5-tonne axle loads and support freight train speeds of up to 100 km/h.
• Cargo Type by Corridor:

1. 1. Eastern DFC: Focused on coal and raw materials.
   2. Western DFC: Transports containers, cement, fertilisers, and other industrial goods.

• Train Speed: Trains currently operate at 50–60 km/h, with further speed gains expected through modern rolling stock.
• Capacity Utilization: Already operating at over 85% capacity, with projections of 480 daily trains (240 each direction) by mid-2026.
• Future Expansion Plans:

1. 1. East Coast Corridor: Paradip to Vijayawada
   2. East–West Corridor: Kharagpur to Mumbai
   3. North–South Corridor: Delhi to Chennai

• Estimated Expansion Cost: The combined cost of these three new corridors is around ₹4 lakh crore, with the East Coast Corridor prioritized first.

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