List out the dedicated freight corridors which are under construction as well as under pipeline in India. What are the obvious benefits of those corridors?
Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs):
- Dedicated freight corridors (DFCs) are meant to create a safe and efficient freight transportation system in the country.
- The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian Railways is responsible for construction, maintenance and operation of the Dedicated Freight Corridors in the country.
- Currently, the Western DFC connecting Haryana and Maharashtra and the Eastern DFC connecting Punjab and West Bengal are under construction.
- North-South (Delhi-Tamil Nadu), East-West (West Bengal-Maharashtra), East-South (West Bengal-Andhra Pradesh) and South-South (Tamil Nadu-Goa) DFCs are being planned.
- They will act as the backbone of the industrial corridors projects like Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Amritsar Delhi and Kolkata Industrial Corridor (ADKIC) and the ensuing industrial corridor projects.
- They will decongest the existing Indian Railway network
- They will increase the average speed of goods trains from the existing 25 kmph to 70 kmph
- They will allow running heavy haul trains and carry an overall load of 13,000 tonne.
- DFCs will connect the existing ports and industrial areas for faster movement of goods.
- The DFC project is an energy-efficient and environment-friendly rail transport system as per global standards.
- The successful construction and maintenance of dedicated freight corridors are imperative for the grand success of Make in India initiative.