Railways launched massive infrastructure project to promote MSMEs

28 Dec 2022 CW Team

Indian Railways has undertaken a massive infrastructure project, Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), with the goal of promoting MSME markets.

The DFC project consists of two sections: the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC - from Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust - 1506 km) and the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC - from Ludhiana to Sonnagar -1337 km).

Almost 1,610 km (799 km EDFC and 811 km WDFC) of the total route were completed by October 2022.

Similarly, on March 31, 2022, Indian Railways launched a pilot project for 'Joint Parcel Product' (JPP) in collaboration with India Post with the goal of targeting business-to-customer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) markets with a focus on e-Commerce and MSME markets.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Railways in April this year, the Department of Posts will provide first- and last-mile connectivity, while Railways will provide intermediate connectivity from station to station.

A parcel van was attached to the Tapti Ganga Express (19045/46) between Surat and Varanasi for the pilot run of this project.

Earlier this year, Indian Railways reduced the application fee for MSMEs seeking to become vendors with the Railways' Research Designs & Standards Organisation from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 10,000. (RDSO).

Also read:
Railways to upgrade 3 major stations in Chhattisgarh
Railway to revamp 1,000 small stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..