Dedicated freight corridors Can Add Rs 160 Bn to India's GDP

29 Oct 2024 CW Team

In a recent study conducted by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, India’s Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) are projected to boost the country’s GDP by Rs 160 billion.

The findings, shared by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), highlight the transformative economic impact of the corridors, particularly the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).

The operationalisation of the WDFC has significantly reduced freight costs and travel times, leading to commodity price reductions of up to 0.5 per cent, DFCCIL reported.

Furthermore, the study indicates that DFCs have contributed to 2.94 % of the revenue growth achieved by Indian Railways between the fiscal years 2018–19 and 2022–23, with over 10 % of India’s rail freight now managed through DFC routes. The DFC network, spanning 2,843 km and passing through 56 districts across seven states, is nearing completion at 96.4 % as of October 2024.

The Eastern DFC (EDFC), stretching 1,337 km from Ludhiana to Sonnagar, is fully operational, while the WDFC, covering 1,506 km from Dadri to Mumbai, is 93.2 % complete.

These corridors connect key industrial hubs, including coal mines, thermal power plants, cement factories, and large ports such as Mundra, Kandla, Pipavav, and Hazira.

Infrastructure Transport

13 Oct 2025

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..