Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry on Monday reviewed the progress of Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation India Limited (DFCCIL). During the meeting, the senior officials informed the current status of the project. It is expected that Western Corridor connecting Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) in Mumbai and Eastern Corridor starting from Sahnewal near Ludhiana (Punjab) to terminate at Dankuni in West Bengal shall be completed by December, 2021.
- Shri Goyal directed the DFCCIL management team to take necessary steps to speed up the project to compensate the loss of time due to lockdown during COVID.
- He also advised the officials to identify the most challenging area and come up with a solution in a mission mode.
- The railway minister suggested that involving young fresh minds to suggest best solutions may be encouraged.
- During the meeting, it was decided that strict monitoring of work of all contractors to be done.
- Resolution of all issues, including coordination with the States to be done on a Mission mode.
- Innovative mechanisms to constantly monitor the weekly progress of the project to be evolved.
About Dedicated Freight Corridors:
- Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) is one of the largest rail infrastructure projects undertaken by the Government of India.
- The overall cost is pegged at Rs 81,459 crores.
- DFCCIL has been set up as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to undertake planning, development, mobilization of financial resources, construction, maintenance and operation of Dedicated Freight Corridors.
- In the first phase the organisation is constructing the Western DFC (1504 Route km) and Eastern DFC (1856 route km) spanning a total length of 3360 route km.
Latest Progress:
- DFCCIL recently conducted a successful speed trial of Electric Loco on turnout (Cross Over) at the speed of 55 Kmph between Bhadan-Khurja of Eastern DFC on Delhi-Kanpur section.
- Earlier the speed of turnout was 15/30 kmph.
- It will ensure fast operation of goods trains over DFC.
- As on 17.08.2020, DFCCIL has added 155 Route km in EDFC between Bhaupur (Near Kanpur in UP) to Bhadan (UP).
Source: PIB-Press Release
