Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has dismissed concerns that the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) could divert cargo volumes away from its flagship Mundra Port in Gujarat, asserting that the port’s structural and operational strengths will continue to give it a competitive edge.
The 1,506-km Western DFC — an electrified freight corridor linking Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to key western ports including Mundra and Nhava Sheva — is designed to facilitate faster, high-capacity double-stack container train operations. While the corridor is expected to significantly enhance freight efficiency across northern and western India, APSEZ said its impact on Mundra’s cargo volumes would be “negligible”.
Addressing investors, Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO of APSEZ, emphasised that Mundra’s competitiveness stems from factors such as deep draft, faster vessel turnaround time, integrated logistics infrastructure and strong connectivity with inland container depots (ICDs).
“Anything which comes to Mundra can also go to Vizhinjam for transshipment. So that is the competitiveness in Mundra as a port,” Gupta said. He added that while catchment areas between competing ports may differ, Mundra’s advantages remain intact. “The question is what is the impact of DFC on us? It is negligible, or I would say zero even,” he noted.
Gupta explained that although the DFC will reduce transit time along its dedicated rail network, travel times to competing ports and ICDs would remain comparable to existing connectivity between Mundra and APSEZ’s network of ICDs in the National Capital Region (NCR). As a result, the corridor is unlikely to materially alter cargo flows in favour of rival ports.
Industry observers note that the Western DFC is expected to lower logistics costs, improve reliability and increase capacity for freight movement. However, APSEZ believes that Mundra’s established ecosystem — including multimodal connectivity, scale advantages and integrated port-led logistics capabilities — will ensure it retains its dominant position in the region.
Mundra Port remains India’s largest commercial port by volume, handling diversified cargo across containers, dry bulk, liquid cargo and automobiles. With the DFC enhancing overall supply chain efficiency, APSEZ indicated that it sees the corridor more as a growth enabler for trade rather than a competitive threat.
