Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate a series of crucial railway projects, including pivotal sections of the dedicated freight corridors, on Tuesday. Among the projects set for the inauguration are the 401-kilometer stretch of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and the 244-kilometer stretch of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), constructed at a combined cost of Rs 252.22 billion.
These corridors, built with substantial international investment, are integral to India's strategy to streamline logistics operations. Not only will they free up more rail capacity for passenger traffic, but they are also expected to alleviate congestion within the railway network.
The inauguration comes alongside the announcement of two new Vande Bharat Express trains in Karnataka and the completion of India's first vertical lift railway sea bridge, the Pamban Bridge, facilitating unique passage for ships and ferries.
Additionally, Jharkhand welcomes its third Vande Bharat Express, while Bihar witnesses the unveiling of two new Vande Bharat Express trains, among other railway projects.
During the inauguration, PM Modi will also flag off special freight trains from various stations along the corridors. With this, the EDFC will be fully operational, while the WDFC will be 81% completed, with hopes to finish the remaining sections by next March.
Despite the corridors' capacity to accommodate 240 trains per day, they are currently running at only 100-110 trains daily due to low demand from industries. However, officials from the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) express optimism about future demand.
Shobhit Bhatnagar, Director of Operations & Business Development at DFCCIL, stated, The infrastructure is almost ready. We are expecting the industries to assess the benefits of using the DFC network. The demand will pick up from the current levels.
The introduction of the freight corridors has significantly reduced transportation times, attracting industries. For instance, the time to transport coal from Eastern India to power plants in Northern and Western India has been slashed to below 20 hours from 35 hours previously.
Furthermore, the commissioning of the WDFC has halved the transportation time of container trains from Western Indian ports to Delhi NCR, providing a significant boost to the exports-imports industry.
DFCCIL officials emphasize the positive impact on Indian Railways, including the easing of pressure on existing tracks, enabling more passenger train services, and an expected increase in the railway's share of freight transportation from 25% to over 40%.
Despite facing delays since its inception in 2006, the project, funded through a blend of debt and equity, has persevered, overcoming hurdles such as land acquisition challenges.
The inauguration of these freight corridors marks a milestone in India's transportation infrastructure, promising to reshape logistics operations and bolster economic growth.
