Dankuni-Surat DFC announces in Budget 2026 ; to connect Gujarat to Bengal

NEW DELHI : The corridor is expected to emerge as a major freight link, enabling faster and greener transportation of goods between key industrial hubs in the east and the ports and manufacturing centres in the west.

Strategic Importance
India’s existing Dedicated Freight Corridors, including the Eastern DFC (from Ludhiana to Dankuni) and the Western DFC (from Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port), have already transformed rail logistics by separating freight operations from passenger traffic, reducing transit time, and increasing capacity.

The proposed Dedicated Freight Corridor connecting Dankuni in West Bengal with Surat will pass through Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. This 2,052-km corridor will integrate with the existing Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, enabling seamless movement of goods to ports along the west coast. The Union Minister noted that the existing Eastern and Western DFCs are already operating at near-saturation levels, handling around 400 freight trains daily, necessitating additional corridors to meet future demand.

By linking mineral-rich regions in the east with Surat’s textile, diamond, and port-based industries, the corridor is expected to promote balanced regional development and boost India’s freight infrastructure.