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Industry Report
Dedicated
Freight Corridors

Dedicated freight corridors

Transforming India's

logistics backbone

Dedicated to advancing India's economic prowess, the 2,843-kilometer Dedicated Freight
Corridor network is setting the wheels of transformation in motion. These high-speed
corridors are not only slashing cargo transit times and cutting costs but also providing
unparalleled freight efficiency. The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) stands
fully commissioned, while the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) is at 93.2%
completion, with the remaining work scheduled for the financial year 2024-25. This
infrastructure marvel is fueling the nation's rise as an economic powerhouse across sectors.
Parijat Sourabh

s the world's fifth-largest Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar for the DFCs from the Japanese
economy with a population Pradesh. While the Eastern Dedicated Government. By October 2007, the
of approximately 1.428 Freight Corridor (EDFC) stretches over feasibility study report was delivered to
Abillion people, India 1,337 kilometers, encompassing various India's Ministry of Railways.
is eyeing to gain the spot of the sections: Sahnewal to Khurja (401 km), Concurrently, the ministry began
world's third-largest economy. With Khurja to Bhaupur (351 km), Bhaupur efforts to create a special-purpose
the Indian e-commerce market to DDU (Deen Dayal Upadhyay junction, vehicle to manage the construction,
projected to be worth $ 112.93 billion formerly Mughalsarai) (402 km), DDU operation, and maintenance of the
in 2024 and expected to reach USD to Sonnagar (137 km), and the Khurja DFCs, resulting in the formation of the
299.01 billion by 2029 (representing to Dadri segment (46 km). “The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation
a staggering 21.5% CAGR), the Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) is of India Limited (DFCCIL). DFCCIL was
nation is rapidly transforming into fully commissioned and the Western entrusted with the responsibility for
a growing manufacturing hub. To Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) planning, financial resource mobilisation,
bolster this rapid economic expansion, is also 93.2% completed and the construction, operation, maintenance,
a substantial multi-billion dollar remaining work will be completed in the and business development of the DFCs,
infrastructure initiative known as the financial year 2024-25,” said a DFCCIL marking a significant milestone in the
Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) is official in a quote to Indian Transport & project's implementation.
set to transform the nation's freight Logistics News (ITLN). From DFCCIL's perspective, the
transportation sector, solidifying its These high-speed, heavy-haul Dedicated Freight Corridors are
standing as a logistics powerhouse. electric cargo corridors are not expected to yield transformative
The Dedicated Freight Corridor only enhancing freight velocity and impacts on the Indian economy and
Corporation of India (DFCCIL) reliability but also significantly infrastructure.“The objective of DFC
spearheads the DFC project, reducing logistics costs. is to reduce the logistics cost below
constructing dedicated freight The concept of Dedicated Freight 10% as per the National Logistics
railways across India. As of 2024, Corridors (DFCs) in India was first Policy. EDFC & WDFC connect the
the Eastern and Western Dedicated introduced by the government during hinterland – land-locked states in the
Freight Corridors, with a combined the presentation of the Railway Budget North with the ports of the Western
length of 2,843 kilometers (1,766 for the fiscal year 2005-06. This coast. DFC facilitates the speedy
miles), are transforming freight initiative gained further momentum in movement of goods, the transportation
movement in the country. April 2005 when it was discussed at the time on EDFC between the coal fields
The Western Dedicated Freight Japan-India Summit Meeting, leading of Eastern India & power stations of
Corridor (WDFC) spans 1,506 to a declaration of cooperation signed North India has decreased from 35 hrs
kilometers, linking the JNPT port in by the Prime Ministers of both nations. to 20 hrs. The inventory costs of power
Mumbai to Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, This declaration outlined plans for a plants due to significantly reduced
traversing through Maharashtra, feasibility study and potential funding transit time have been reduced by
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