What is the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC)?
Answer: The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) is a 1,337-km freight railway corridor in India, stretching from Punjab to Bihar. It is designed to facilitate the efficient transportation of freight and reduce transit times for goods.
What is the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC)?
Answer: The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) is a 1,506-km freight railway corridor in India, connecting Maharashtra and Gujarat with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Like the EDFC, its purpose is to enhance freight transportation efficiency.
What is the significance of the EDFC's completion?
Answer: The completion of the EDFC is expected to significantly reduce transit times for freight transportation, particularly for coal deliveries to thermal plants in north-western states. It aims to improve logistics and facilitate smoother movement of goods.
What challenges and delays have been associated with the EDFC project?
Answer: The EDFC project faced a five-year delay beyond its original deadline of 2017-18. This delay led to a 54% increase in project costs. The primary reasons for the delay include land acquisition issues and inefficiencies within the railway system.
Why was there a change in the EDFC's termination point from Dankuni to Son Nagar?
Answer: The project's rerouting to terminate at Son Nagar, Bihar, instead of Dankuni, West Bengal, has not been adequately explained. It is suggested that the new terminal location may have better logistics advantages, considering its proximity to Howrah Station and Calcutta Port.
What is the expected speed of trains on the dedicated freight corridor?
Answer: Originally, it was announced that trains on the corridor would run at an average speed of 70 km per hour (kmph), significantly faster than traditional Indian Railway lines. However, officials now mention an average speed of 50-60 kmph, which is slower than the initial specifications.
When is the expected completion date for the EDFC project?
Answer: DFCCIL officials aim to have 95% of the project operational by March 2024. This completion should help address logistics challenges faced by industries in India and improve the efficiency of railway freight transportation.
The dedicated freight corridors aim to enhance the efficiency of freight transportation in India, but they have faced delays and changes in specifications that have raised questions about their implementation.
How will DFC boost India's economy?
Answer: By providing swifter, cost-optimizing cargo transport, which in turn, diminish logistics costs, boost local businesses along the corridor, and lift up India's global competitiveness.
What's the primary goal of DFC?
Answer: DFC's main aim is to combat congestion in India's railway system, ensuring rapid goods transportation and advancing India's economic growth.
What traits do the cargo trains on DFC display?
Answer: DFC's cargo trains tout qualities such as additional capacity, a long form, and high speed.
Do any cutting-edge technologies accompany DFC?
Answer: Absolutely, DFC incorporates up-to-the-minute signaling and communication systems, advanced train control systems, and is fully primed for full electrification. These innovations bolster transport quality and security on the corridor.
SRIRAM’s Classroom Elevate Your Learning!
