Under the
direction of the Indian Government, Indian Railways had taken up the dedicated
freight corridor (DFC) project. The project Consist construction of six freight
corridors. The purpose of the project is to provide efficient freight
transportation system. Which can boost up the Indian economy to a certain point.
The
construction of two freight corridors, the Western DFC connecting the states of
Haryana and Maharashtra and the Eastern DFC connecting
the states Punjab and West Bengal, is being undertaken. The combined length of
the Western and Eastern DFCs is approximately 2,843km. The total cost of the
project is estimated at $11.38bn. It is expected to become operational between
2020 and 2022.
The other four corridors
include North-South (Delhi-Tamil Nadu), East-West (West Bengal-Maharashtra),
East-South (West Bengal-Andhra Pradesh) and South-South (Tamil Nadu-Goa). These
four corridors are still in the planning stage.
In 2006, the Government of
India established a dedicated body to implement the project, called the
Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL). The DFCCIL began
building the eastern and western corridors simultaneously, in three phases.
Construction work on phase one of the project, which includes the 105km
Sonnagar-Mughalsarai section of the Eastern DFC, began in February 2009.
The DFC project is expected
to reduce congestion at various terminals and junctions. It will allow for
efficient and fast movement of freight along the corridor.
The total land required for
the corridor is 11,180ha, but initially, the DFCCIL has a notification for only
5,000ha, across eight states. The final notice for the possession of land under
section 20E of the Indian Railways (Amendment) Act gives the project power to
acquire land as it is of national importance. Approximately 6,000ha of land has
been notified by DFCCIL under this section.
However, the Railway
minister’s resolution not to acquire the land forcibly hindered the project and
forced the DFCCIL to re-examine the alignment of corridors. This is expected to
result in time and cost over-runs, and freight choking
on both the corridors.
The bidding process for the
eastern corridor, which was scheduled for May 2010, was also postponed.
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