WDFC Project about to complete and the final phase to start operation by December 2025

NEW DELHI : The ambitious Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Project is set to be completed by December 2025, according to Praveen Kumar, Managing Director of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL).

The final 102 km stretch of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) will be brought into operation in phases, Kumar told .

“By December, we are expecting to commission the remaining portion of the Western DFC. This section will be commissioned in a phased manner so that its potential can be realised earlier. In June this year, we are planning to commission one of the blocks,” he said.

The last stretch between Vaitarna and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has faced multiple delays due to execution challenges. Despite this, the overall progress of the Western DFC stands at 93.2 per cent, while the Eastern DFC is already fully operational.

Once completed, both corridors will have the capacity to accommodate 480 freight trains per day, significantly boosting freight movement across the country.

Highlighting DFCCIL’s strong financial standing, Kumar stated, “The cost of these two corridors is Rs 1.24 lakh crore, and our financial rate of return is 9 per cent, which is quite good. The corridors are also providing many indirect benefits, including a reduction in carbon emissions, fewer accidents, improved supply chains, and timely delivery of goods.”

The DFC project has been financed through loans from major multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and MUFG Bank.

Besides reducing logistics costs, the corridors are expected to spur industrial growth, facilitate the development of Gati Shakti cargo terminals, and decongest passenger rail networks.