Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor
{{short description|Dedicated freight railway under construction in India}}
{{Lead rewrite|date=June 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 300px
| name = Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor
| other_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width = 120px
| logo_alt =
| image =
| image_width =
| image_alt =
| caption = A WAG-12 locomotive on the Eastern DFC
| type = Freight rail
| system = DFCCIL
| status = Fully operational
| locale = Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal
| end = Dankuni, West Bengal
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| ridership2 =
| planopen = {{start date and age|June 2023}}{{cite web |title=Completion targets on India's DFCs likely to be extended |url=https://www.railjournal.com/freight/completion-targets-on-indias-dfcs-likely-to-be-extended/ |website=International Railway Journal |access-date=14 May 2022 |date=22 April 2022}}
| open =
| yearcommenced =
| yearcompleted = {{Start date|2024|02}}
| close =
| event1label =
| event1 =
| event2label =
| event2 =
| event3label =
| event3 =
| owner = DFCCIL
| operator = Indian Railways
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength_km = 1839
| linelength_mi =
| linelength =
| tracklength_km =
| tracklength_mi =
| tracklength =
| tracks =
| gauge = {{RailGauge|5ft6in}} Indian broad gauge
| old_gauge =
| load_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| routenumber =
| linenumber =
| electrification = {{25 kV 50 Hz}} overhead catenary
| speed_km/h =
| speed_mph =
| speed =
| signalling =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor|inline=yes}}
| map_name =
| map_state = collapsed
| embedded =
}}
Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor or Eastern DFC is a broad gauge freight corridor in India. The railway line runs between Ludhiana in Punjab and Dankuni (near Kolkata) in West Bengal via Meerut and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.{{Cite web |title=DFCCIL |url=https://dfccil.com/Home/DynemicPages?MenuId=76 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=dfccil.com |archive-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701102211/https://dfccil.com/Home/DynemicPages?MenuId=76 |url-status=live }} This railway line is one of the multiple freight corridors being constructed by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL), a public-sector unit (PSU) under the Ministry of Railways.
Logistic Hub and Network
A large Logisitic Hub is proposed in Meerut, which is well connected to EDFC and several expressways.
The Eastern DFC will mostly have double tracks and will be electrified, but the section from Ludhiana to Khurja (365 km) will be single line electrified due to lack of space. This freight corridor will cover a total distance of 1,839 km. This corridor is having a 46 km branch line which is joining Khurja (Bulandshahr district) on the Eastern DFC with Dadri (Gautam Buddha Nagar district) on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (Western DFC).
As of August 2023, 1150 km or 86% of the Eastern DFC has been completed and 99% required land for these have been acquired.{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Moushumi Das |title=Railways' massive Dedicated Freight Corridor nears completion 2 decades later — why it's a big deal |url=https://theprint.in/india/railways-massive-dedicated-freight-corridor-nears-completion-2-decades-later-why-its-a-big-deal/1766478/ |access-date=8 October 2023 |work=ThePrint |date=19 September 2023 |archive-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928192853/https://theprint.in/india/railways-massive-dedicated-freight-corridor-nears-completion-2-decades-later-why-its-a-big-deal/1766478/ |url-status=live }} First two DFCs, Western DFC, from Dadri, Uttar Pradesh to JNPT (Navi Mumbai) and Eastern DFC from Punjab to West Bengal, which will decongest the railway network by moving 70% of India's goods trains to these two corridors.
Route
The freight corridor will cover first 447 km of Ludhiana - Dhari - Khurja section with single electrified track. After this the remaining line will be double track electrified up to Dankuni in West Bengal. This will pass through the important districts of Sahnewal, Doraha, Ludhiana, Sirhind, Rajpura, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut (Logistic Hub), Hapur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Hathras, Barhan, Tundla, Firozabad, Etawah, Kanpur, Prayagraj and Chandauli. To reduce load over the main line, this line will have many junctions. The proposed junctions on this line are Dhandharikalan, Sirhind, Rajpura, Khalanaur, Khurja, Daudkhan, Tundla, Bhaupur, Prempur, Manauri, Karchhana, Jeonathpur, Mughalsarai Junction railway station, Ganjkhwaja, Sasaram, Dehri On Sone, Son Nagar, Gomoh, Andal, Bardhaman and Dankuni (The eastern terminal point).
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan=2| Eastern DFC |
|---|
| State
! Distance Covered |
| Punjab
| style="text-align:center;"|88 |
| Haryana
| style="text-align:center;"|72 |
| Uttar Pradesh
| style="text-align:center;"|1076 |
| Bihar
| style="text-align:center;"|236 |
| Jharkhand
| style="text-align:center;"|199 |
| West Bengal
| style="text-align:center;"|202 |
| Total
! 1873 |
Logistic hub
A large logistic hub is also proposed in Meerut, since the city is suitable major hub due to its well connectivity and proximity with expressways like Delhi Meerut Expressway, Ganga Expressway, Delhi Mumbai Expressway, Yamuna Expressway and upcoming Meerut Haridwar Expressway.{{Cite web |title=मुजफ्फरनगर, मेरठ में भी बनेगा फ्रेट कारिडोर का लॉजिस्टिक हब: संजीव बालियान |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/muzaffar-nagar/story-freight-corridor-39-s-logistic-hub-to-be-built-in-muzaffarnagar-meerut-as-well-sanjeev-balyan-3712757.html |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Hindustan |language=hi |archive-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927005322/https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/muzaffar-nagar/story-freight-corridor-39-s-logistic-hub-to-be-built-in-muzaffarnagar-meerut-as-well-sanjeev-balyan-3712757.html |url-status=live }}
The land around the departure points of Meerut, from where the expressway is to start, will be developed for industries.
Ashok Agarwal, national president, Indian Industries Association (IIA), said "We have also received queries related to the allotment of land along the Ganga Expressway from investors. Most of the queries are for land in Meerut, Budaun and its adjoining areas".
Government proposed following investment zones -
- Meerut along Delhi Meerut Expressway
- Meerut Muzaffarnagar Investment region
- Dadri Noida Ghaziabad Investment Region
Construction
This corridor is divided into multiple sections for contracting purposes.[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/rlys-reluctance-to-cede-control-delays-1billion-world-bank-loan/article4577431.ece Rlys’ reluctance to cede control delays $1-billion World Bank loan | Business Line]. Thehindubusinessline.com (3 April 2013). Retrieved on 5 May 2014.[https://dfccil.com/Home/ProgressStatusImage Project Status | DFCCIL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816215221/https://dfccil.com/Home/ProgressStatusImage |date=16 August 2022 }}. https://dfccil.com/ (3 April 2022). Retrieved on 19 June 2022.
Operations control center (OCC)
Built by Alstom at Prayagraj, OCC will house command and control center to monitor all trains and power supply systems on Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.{{Cite news|date=29 December 2020|title=PM Modi inaugurates EDFC's Operation Control Centre at Prayagraj|url=https://www.railpost.in/operation-control-centre-prayagraj-inaugurated-to-control-the-whole-of-edfc/|access-date=5 March 2021|work=RailPost.in|language=en-US}} It will be staffed by 150 people and the facility is spread across 4.2 acres.{{Cite web|title=PM to inaugurate the New Bhaupur- New Khurja section and the Operation Control Centre of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor on 29 December|url=http://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1683983|access-date=5 March 2021|website=pib.gov.in|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130093635/https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1683983|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Jacob|first=Shine|date=7 September 2020|title=Prayagraj to house the nerve centre of automated goods train running system|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/indian-railways/prayagraj-to-house-the-nerve-centre-of-automated-goods-train-running-system-120090600780_1.html|access-date=5 March 2021|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214200101/https://www.business-standard.com/article/indian-railways/prayagraj-to-house-the-nerve-centre-of-automated-goods-train-running-system-120090600780_1.html|url-status=live}}
Latest Map from DFCCIL:
https://dfccil.com/images/uploads/img/MapDFC_NIZC.png
Status updates
- Apr 2005: The project is announced by the then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh.
- Oct 2006: The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) is formed by the Ministry of Railways on 30 October.
- Feb 2008: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves the Western DFC and the Eastern DFC.
- Sep 2009: The Union Cabinet approved a JICA loan.
- 2018-19: DFC is revived by the Union government after a decade of inactivity, with a target of going live by March 2023. However, the COVID crisis stalls the project's progress, and the timelines are shifted by a year. A major part of the project becomes operational by 2023. {{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
- Jun 2023: 77% of the DFC is completed and the project is set to be completed by the end of 2023.{{cite news |title=Eastern Freight corridor set to commence by year-end |url=https://www.constructionworld.in/transport-infrastructure/metro-rail-and-railways-infrastructure/eastern-freight-corridor-set-to-commence-by-year-end/43098 |access-date=8 October 2023 |work=www.constructionworld.in |language=en |archive-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022024037/https://www.constructionworld.in/transport-infrastructure/metro-rail-and-railways-infrastructure/eastern-freight-corridor-set-to-commence-by-year-end/43098 |url-status=live }}
- Oct 2023: The last leg of the Eastern DFC underwent a successful trial run. With this, the line is completed to Son Nagar.{{cite web | url=https://indiashippingnews.com/eastern-dfc-electric-loco-trial-successfully-conducted-on-94-km-long-last-leg-of-freight-corridor/ | title=Eastern-DFC : Electric Loco trial successfully conducted on 94-Km-long last leg of freight corridor - India Shipping News | date=4 October 2023 | access-date=9 October 2023 | archive-date=22 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022024037/https://indiashippingnews.com/eastern-dfc-electric-loco-trial-successfully-conducted-on-94-km-long-last-leg-of-freight-corridor/ | url-status=live }}
- Feb 2024: Construction has been completed.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-12 |title=Indian Railways advances freight transportation with completion of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor and ongoing progress on Western Corridor |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/railways-indian-railways-advances-freight-transportation-with-completion-of-eastern-dedicated-freight-corridor-and-ongoing-progress-on-western-corridor-3391026/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Financialexpress |language=en |archive-date=12 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212175012/https://www.financialexpress.com/business/railways-indian-railways-advances-freight-transportation-with-completion-of-eastern-dedicated-freight-corridor-and-ongoing-progress-on-western-corridor-3391026/ |url-status=live }}
- Apr 2024: Fully operational{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Abhishek |date=2024-04-04 |title=Dedicated freight corridor: Over 90% operational, 138 km to be added by April-end |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/dedicated-freight-corridor-over-90-operational-138-km-to-be-added-by-april-end/article68026973.ece |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=BusinessLine |language=en |archive-date=7 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407112324/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/dedicated-freight-corridor-over-90-operational-138-km-to-be-added-by-april-end/article68026973.ece |url-status=live }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://dfccil.gov.in/dfccil_app/Eastern_Corridor.jsp Eastern DFC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903112729/http://dfccil.gov.in/dfccil_app/Eastern_Corridor.jsp |date=3 September 2016 }}
- [http://www.railnews.co.in/dfccil-managing-director-inspects-kanpur-khurja-railway-track/ Map of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor]
- [http://dfccil.gov.in/dfccil_app/Project_status.jsp Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) Official link for project status] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401154429/http://dfccil.gov.in/dfccil_app/Project_status.jsp |date=1 April 2016 }}
{{Dedicated freight corridors of India}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:East Dedicated Freight Corridor}}
Category:Transport in Ludhiana
Category:Dedicated freight corridors of India
Category:Rail transport in Uttar Pradesh
Category:Rail transport in Jharkhand