Additionally, the Ministry is preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for three new DFCs to further expand freight connectivity:

? East-Coast Corridor – Kharagpur to Vijayawada ? East-West Corridor – Covering Palghar, Bhusawal, Nagpur, Kharagpur, and Dankuni, along with a sub-route from Rajkharsawan to Andal via Kalipahari ? North-South Sub-corridor – Connecting Vijayawada, Nagpur, and Itarsi

The DPRs for these corridors are under evaluation, but none have been sanctioned yet. Given the capital-intensive nature of DFC projects, final approval depends on factors such as technical feasibility, financial and economic viability, projected traffic demand, and funding availability.

The DFC initiative is expected to significantly impact the transportation and logistics sector by facilitating Double Stack Container (DSC) trains, enabling higher axle load capacity, and improving access to northern industrial hubs from western ports. The Eastern DFC will primarily support mineral transportation from eastern India, contributing to reduced logistics costs.

Shifting freight traffic to EDFC and WDFC has freed up space on conventional railway lines, increasing operational efficiency. The average number of trains operating on DFCs rose from 247 per day in 2023-24 to 352 per day in 2024-25 (as of February 2025), with 371 daily trains recorded in February alone. This has enabled Indian Railways to introduce additional freight and passenger services with improved punctuality, boosting revenue.

The modernization and expansion of railway infrastructure remain a continuous process, driven by operational requirements, technical feasibility, commercial considerations, and resource availability.

News source: PIB