In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) linking Dankuni in West Bengal with Surat in Gujarat, aimed at boosting freight movement and logistics efficiency across India.
The proposed 2,052-km east–west freight corridor will pass through West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, strengthening seamless trade flows across regions. The corridor will connect with both the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), enabling smoother movement of goods between eastern industrial hubs and west coast ports.
Addressing the media at Rail Bhawan on February 1, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Dankuni–Surat DFC will significantly enhance cargo movement, decongest existing rail networks and improve overall logistics efficiency. He added that the corridor will allow industries to transport goods more efficiently from ports in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
According to the Railways, DFCs are designed for higher axle load wagons and double-stack container operations, which will improve service quality and reduce the cost of rail freight transportation. The project will be executed by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) under the Ministry of Railways.
The new corridor is expected to play a key role in supporting industrial growth, supply chains and long-distance freight movement, reinforcing rail-led logistics under the government’s infrastructure push.