Dedicated Freight Corridor
Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)
Overview
Dedicated Freight Corridors are high-speed, high-capacity rail freight lines being built exclusively for goods trains so that passenger and freight traffic can run on separate networks. Indian Railways is constructing two main corridors—Eastern DFC (EDFC) and Western DFC (WDFC)—to de-congest the existing Golden Quadrilateral and increase average freight speed from 25 km/h to 70 km/h.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total length under DFC Phase-1 | 2,843 km |
| Eastern DFC (EDFC) route | Ludhiana (Punjab) → Dankuni (West Bengal) |
| Western DFC (WDFC) route | Dadri (UP) → Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Mumbai, Maharashtra) |
| Approved cost (Phase-1, 2018 prices) | ₹81,459 crore |
| Implementing agency | Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd. (DFCCIL) |
| Year DFCCIL incorporated | 30 Oct 2006 |
| EDFC length | 1,839 km |
| WDFC length | 1,504 km |
| Design speed | 100 km/h (freight) |
| Axle load target | 25-ton (vs 22.5-ton on IR) |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (broad gauge) |
| Signalling system | ETCS Level-2 (LTE-R based) |
| Traction | 100 % electrified (25 kV, 50 Hz) |
| Longest tunnel | 6.6 km (Sohna, WDFC) |
| Longest bridge | 2.3 km across Ganga near Kanpur (EDFC) |
| Multimodal logistics parks (MMLPs) planned | 33 |
| First DFC section opened | 15 Aug 2018 (Dadri-Khurja, 46 km, WDFC) |
| Target completion | 100 % by Dec 2025 |
Important Points
- EDFC is coal-heavy; will decongest coal & steel routes of Howrah-Delhi.
- WDFC is container-heavy; will connect NCR, Rajasthan & Gujarat ports.
- DFCCIL is a PSU under the Ministry of Railways but does not run trains—only owns & maintains infrastructure.
- Freight trains on DFC will be 1.5 km long (BCNHL rakes of 120 wagons).
- Automatic block signalling with 5-minute headway capacity.
- 40 % reduction in transit time & 15 % saving in haulage cost expected.
- Stations are called “Goods Sheds / ICDs”; no passenger amenities.
- 70 % cargo on EDFC is coal for NTPC & IPPs.
- WDFC will handle >60 % of India’s containerised EXIM traffic.
- DFC alignment is fenced throughout—no level crossings.
- DFCCIL has power procurement freedom—open access at 4.5 ₹/kWh.
- RORO & double-stack dwarf containers cleared for 1,800 mm high passage.
- Freight corridors feed into future high-speed passenger corridors (Delhi-Ahmedabad, etc.).
- 2 new DFCs proposed: East-Coast (Kharagpur-Vijayawada) & East-West (Bhusawal-Kharagpur).
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Parent ministry & incorporating year of DFCCIL.
- Combined length and cost of Phase-1.
- Eastern vs Western corridor terminal stations.
- Design axle load and maximum speed of freight trains.
- First commissioned section and its inauguration date.
Practice MCQs
Question:01 Which of the following is the implementing agency for the Dedicated Freight Corridors in India?
A) Indian Railways
B) DFCCIL
C) Rail Vikas Nigam Limited
D) CONCOR
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: DFCCIL (Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd.) is the special-purpose agency created by the Ministry of Railways to plan, construct and operate the Dedicated Freight Corridors across the country.
Question:02 The total sanctioned length of Phase-1 DFC is approximately
A) 2,650 km
B) 2,843 km
C) 3,020 km
D) 3,340 km
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The sanctioned aggregate route length for Phase-1 of the Dedicated Freight Corridors (Eastern and Western DFCs) is about 2,843 km.
Question:03 Which Dedicated Freight Corridor connects Dadri (Uttar Pradesh) to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai?
A) Eastern DFC
B) Western DFC
C) East-West DFC
D) North-South DFC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor runs from Dadri (UP) to JNPT (Mumbai), covering about 1,504 km and linking the National Capital Region to India’s largest container port.
Question:04 What is the target axle load for DFC routes?
A) 22.5 ton
B) 25 ton
C) 30 ton
D) 32.5 ton
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) routes are designed for a 25-ton axle load to enable heavier freight trains and increase throughput.
Question:05 The first stretch of DFC thrown open to traffic was
A) Dadri–Khurja (46 km)
B) Khurja–Rewari (62 km)
C) Rewari–Palanpur (128 km)
D) Palanpur–Makarana (94 km)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The 46-km Dadri–Khurja section of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor was the first to be commissioned and opened to commercial freight traffic.
Question:06 In which year was DFCCIL incorporated?
A) 2004
B) 2006
C) 2008
D) 2010
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) was incorporated in October 2006 as a special-purpose vehicle to undertake planning, development, and mobilisation of financial resources for the Dedicated Freight Corridor project.
Question:07 The longest bridge on the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) spans which river?
A) Yamuna
B) Ganga
C) Son
D) Damodar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The longest bridge on the EDFC is the Ganga Bridge near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Question:08 What is the designed maximum speed of freight trains on DFC?
A) 75 km/h
B) 90 km/h
C) 100 km/h
D) 120 km/h
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) in India are engineered for freight trains to run at a maximum design speed of 100 km/h, enabling faster and heavier freight movement.
Question:09 Which signalling system is being deployed on the Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) in India?
A) ETCS Level-1
B) ETCS Level-2
C) ETCS Level-3
D) CBTC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Dedicated Freight Corridors are being equipped with European Train Control System (ETCS) Level-2, providing continuous radio-based automatic train protection and optimising heavy-haul freight operations.
Question:10 The proposed East-Coast DFC will primarily run between
A) Kharagpur and Visakhapatnam
B) Kharagpur and Vijayawada
C) Bhubaneswar and Chennai
D) Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The East-Coast Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) is planned to connect Kharagpur in West Bengal with Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, forming a key freight route along India’s eastern seaboard.
BETA
