2 hrs ago
India's Dedicated Freight Corridor Promises Faster Cargo And Farm Markets
India has finished its Dedicated Freight Corridor network for freight trains.
This means goods trains can use special tracks instead of sharing tracks with passenger trains.
The network is more than 2,800 kilometres long.
Trains can now carry goods faster than before.
Moving goods by rail may also save fuel and lower transport costs.
The railway connects factories and farms with important ports.
Farmers may get fruits, vegetables and flowers to markets before they spoil.
A new rail line also connects some remote tribal areas to the national railway network.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the final three Western Dedicated Freight Corridor sections in Vadodara.
The newly commissioned sections cover 326 route kilometres and cost more than Rs 20,700 crore.
The fully operational network spans more than 2,800 kilometres, with over 430 freight trains running daily.
Freight trains can travel faster, while the corridor is expected to reduce fuel use, transport costs and congestion.
The route links industrial centres and ports and could help farmers move fruits, vegetables and flowers to markets sooner.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government announced and commissioned the freight infrastructure.
- What
- The final three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor were dedicated, making the Dedicated Freight Corridor network fully operational.
- Where
- The event was held in Vadodara, Gujarat, and the commissioned sections connect Sanand, Makarpura, New Umbergaon, New Saphale and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority.
- When
- The inauguration and announcement took place on Tuesday; the articles do not specify the date.
- Why
- The project is intended to move freight faster, reduce fuel and logistics costs, ease rail and road congestion, and improve market access for farmers and industry.
Key facts
- Network length
- More than 2,800 kilometres of dedicated freight infrastructure
- New sections
- Three Western Dedicated Freight Corridor sections covering 326 route kilometres
- Construction cost
- More than Rs 20,700 crore for the three final sections
- Freight operations
- More than 430 freight trains run daily on the Eastern and Western freight corridors
- Travel-time comparison
- A 100-kilometre freight journey that previously took about six-and-a-half hours can take less than half that time on the dedicated corridor
- Port connectivity
- The new sections provide direct freight connectivity to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority
- Train capacity
- A double-stack container train between JNPT and Vadodara carried cargo equivalent to more than 250 trucks
Quotes
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of India speaking at the Vadodara inauguration.
“Farm produce from eastern and western India could reach larger markets more quickly, particularly commodities such as flowers, vegetables, and fruits that can deteriorate if transportation takes too long”
thehansindia.com
“a journey that could take around 30 hours by truck could be completed in 10 to 12 hours using the freight corridor”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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