Transit for coal from coal fields of eastern India to power plants of Northern India will now be entirely on the dedicated freight corridor (DFC) route from Sonnagar to Dadri.
Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) achieved a major milestone on Thursday (15 June) with the commissioning of the 27 km Ahraura–Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (Mughalsarai) leg of Eastern DFC.
The first freight train was also operated in the section.
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“Today, it is a historical day for us as with the completion of this critical stretch, seamless connectivity from Sonnagar (Bihar) to Sanand (Gujarat) of 1,875 km length is established,“ said DFCCIL Managing Director RK Jain.
This feat represents a monumental achievement for the project, as it paves the way for enhanced efficiency, reduced transit time, and increased capacity for freight transportation, Jain added.
Now, transit for coal from coal fields of eastern India to power plants of Northern India will be entirely on the dedicated freight corridor (DFC) route from Sonnagar to Dadri.
Transportation time is expected to be reduced to half as coal trains will completely avoid the congested routes of Indian Railways. This will lead to a saving of approximately 1 day, which in turn will reduce the turn round time of precious rakes for coal transportation.
The commissioning of Dagmagpur to Bhaupur (Kanpur) route of DFC has already provided a major relief to Indian Railways. The punctuality of passenger trains with North Central Railway has improved significantly with DFC shouldering the major load of freight trains.
Now, with commissioning of Ahraura Road to DDU, punctuality will improve even further with the benefits trickling further to East Central Railway.
DFC commissioning will also provide more time for maintenance of highly overloaded railway tracks, thereby enhancing the safety architecture over Indian Railways.
As of today, total 2,196 route kilometre — which is 77.2 per cent of the DFC has been commissioned. DFC alignment, except JNPT connectivity, is expected to be commissioned in the next one year.
DFC is a vital cog in the National Logistics Policy which aims to reduce the cost of logistics from 15 per cent to 8 per cent of the country’s GDP, by 2030.
The Gati Shakti Freight Infrastructure capacity augmentation by DFC is crucial in the achieving of Indian Railways’ target of 3,000 MT freight loading by 2030.
With time-tabled trains using strengths of DFC like speed, higher throughput and safety, increased freight traffic mobility is fully assured.
The Dedicated Freight Corridor, one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in India, aims to create a high-speed, high-capacity freight transportation network between Ludhiana in the state of Punjab and Son Nagar in Bihar.
Spanning approximately 1,300 km, the Eastern-DFC is designed to revolutionise the freight transportation sector in the country.
Key Features And Benefits Of The Dedicated Freight Corridor:
Enhanced Connectivity:
The DFC will connect major industrial and consumption centres, including Ludhiana, Khurja, Kanpur, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Rewari, Madar, Palanpur, Bangurgram, Swaroopganj, Sanand, Sonnagar, etc.
This improved connectivity will facilitate seamless movement of goods, boosting trade and economic growth in the region.
Increased Capacity:
The dedicated freight corridor is designed to run 480 heavy-haul freight trains daily capable of carrying higher loads and volumes, leading to a significant increase in freight transportation capacity.
This will reduce congestion on existing rail networks and roads, enabling faster and more efficient movement of goods.
Reduced Transit Time:
By providing a dedicated corridor exclusively for freight transportation, it will significantly reduce transit time for goods between the eastern and northern regions of India.
Container movement time from Gujarat/Maharashtra ports to northern hinterlands will reduce to less than one day. This time-saving advantage will enhance competitiveness and drive economic development across various sectors.
Modern Infrastructure:
The Dedicated Freight Corridor features state-of-the-art infrastructure, including world-class track systems, high-speed electrification, modern signaling and telecommunications, and advanced freight handling facilities.
These upgrades ensure safer, more reliable, and efficient freight transportation.
The completion of the infrastructure construction marks a major milestone in the DFC project, which has been executed with meticulous planning, engineering expertise, and collaboration between various stakeholders.
DFCCIL, along with its partners and contractors, has been committed to delivering a world-class freight corridor that aligns with the Indian government’s vision of transforming the logistics and transportation sector.
The Eastern-DFC is now in the final phase of the project, which includes rigorous testing, commissioning, and integration of various systems.
Once commissioned, it is expected to bring immense benefits to industries, trade, and the overall economy ofthe region.