Indian Railways is planning three new Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) with a ₹1.5trn investment to accelerate logistics and cut costs.
The Ministry of Railways is progressing with ambitious plans for a significant expansion of the nation’s logistics infrastructure by developing three new Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs). These lines are intended to augment the capacity of the existing Eastern and Western DFCs.
This strategic move aims to meet growing freight demand, enhance national supply chain efficiency, and substantially reduce the cost of moving goods across the country.
The proposed corridors include the East Coast Corridor (ECC) from Kharagpur to Vijayawada (1,115 km), the East-West Corridor (EWC) linking the Mumbai and Kolkata regions (approx. 2,328 km), and the North-South Sub-Corridor (NSSC) from Vijayawada through Nagpur to Itarsi (975 km).
The combined capital required for these three new projects is estimated to be approximately ₹1.5 trillion. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been completed and are currently under review by the Ministry of Railways.
The goal is to allow dedicated goods trains to operate at much higher speeds (up to 100 km/h) and carry heavier loads. This will divert substantial cargo traffic from the congested mixed-use tracks, supporting the government’s long-term aim of reducing logistics costs to under 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
SOURCE – LIVE MINT & PIB
