Dedicated Freight Corridors
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Dedicated Freight Corridors

SYLLABUS

GS3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context:

The Eastern and Western freight corridors have jointly recorded a 47% increase in freight train operations in 2024-25 as compared to 2023-24.

More on the News

  • The number of train trips rose from 88,225 in 2023-24 to 1,30,116 in 2024-25.
  • However, the vacant train trips were about 34% in 2024-25, mainly due to coal and cement wagons returning empty, as they can’t be used for other products.
  • Of the total trips in 2024-25, container products accounted for 24%, coal for 19% and miscellaneous items for 11%, while other commodities, such as cement and clinker, iron and steel, foodgrains, fertiliser, and POL (Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants), varied between 1 and 4%.

About Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFCs)

  • DFCs are exclusive freight-only railway corridors, designed for faster, heavier, and longer freight trains. They allow double-stack container trains (especially on WDFC), heavier axle load trains (up to 32.5 tonnes), and reduce congestion on passenger routes.
  • This improves the supply chain for the industry players located at economic centres along the way, leading to growth of export-import traffic too.
  • Presently, there are two dedicated freight corridors which have been constructed and are operated by DFCCIL.
  • Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC):
  • The 1,337-km-long EDFC runs from Ludhiana in Punjab to Sonnagar in Bihar. It is 100% operational.
  • The EDFC route passes through states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
  • Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC):
  • The 1,506-km-long WDFC runs from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal in Mumbai.
  • At present, 1404 km, which is 93.2%, is used for train operations. The remaining 102 km from Vaitrana to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) is scheduled to be commissioned in December 2025.
  • The WDFC passes through states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Significance Dedicated Freight Corridor

  • Operational Efficiency: DFCs are expected to reduce freight cost by 30–40%, moving logistics cost (currently approx. 13–14% of GDP) closer to global standards (8–9%).
  • Enhance Speed: Average speed of DFCs is 60kmph, compared to 20kmph on Indian Railways freight service.
  • Growth Opportunity: DFCs can enable railways to increase their freight share from 25% to 40%.
  • Streamlined Railways: These can decongest railway networks by moving 50-70% of good trains.
  • Sustainable Impact: DFCs can cut carbon emissions by 450 million over the next 30 years.

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL)

  • DFCCIL is a wholly owned company of the Ministry of Railways, registered under the Companies Act 1956 and was incorporated on 30th October 2006.
  • Its primary purpose is to plan, construct, operate, and maintain dedicated freight railway lines.

Sources:
The Hindu
Swarajyamag
Sansad

 

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