Shri Praveen Kumar, Managing Director, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), conducted a comprehensive inspection of the New Manauri–New Durgaoti section of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) on Friday, underscoring operational preparedness ahead of the Magh Mela and during the season of dense fog.
The inspection was carried out by rail car, with the MD accompanied by senior officials from DFCCIL’s Corporate Office as well as the Prayagraj and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) units. The visit focused on ensuring seamless freight operations while maintaining safety and coordination with passenger services during a period marked by low visibility and a significant surge in passenger movement.
The Magh Mela, one of India’s largest religious congregations, attracts millions of devotees to Prayagraj, placing exceptional pressure on rail and other transport networks. During interactions with field officers, Shri Praveen Kumar emphasized the need for strict adherence to safety and operational protocols to balance freight efficiency with passenger requirements, in line with Railway Board guidelines.
Detailed discussions were held with the Chief General Managers from Prayagraj and DDU, AGM/OP&BD (EDFC), DRM Prayagraj and AGM (NCR). Key focus areas included optimization of train operations, asset maintenance, signalling reliability, electrical systems readiness and enhanced safety measures to mitigate risks arising from foggy conditions.
The inspection was attended by senior officers including Shri Sandesh Srivastava (Executive Director/Projects), Shri A. S. Tomar (GGM/S&T), Shri A. B. Saran (CGM/Prayagraj), Shri Ashish Mishra (GM/Security), Shri Shashikant Dwivedi (GM/Electrical) and Shri Mannu Prakash Dubey (AGM/OP&BD/EDFC), along with senior representatives from Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical and S&T departments.
DFCCIL reiterated its commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, reliability and efficiency on the EDFC, particularly during peak passenger movement events, while ensuring uninterrupted freight transportation critical to the national supply chain.