Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) and the Railway Board to expedite the implementation of the newly announced Dankuni–Surat Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC).
According to the Ministry of Railways, Indian Railways has initiated fast-track action for the time-bound execution of the strategically significant corridor, which was announced in the Union Budget 2026.
The proposed freight corridor, spanning approximately 2,100 kilometres, will connect Dankuni in West Bengal to Surat in Gujarat, traversing West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The project is expected to significantly enhance freight movement between eastern and western India, reduce transit time for goods trains, and ease congestion on existing railway routes.
Officials of DFCCIL have been directed to immediately formalise optimum technical standards incorporating the latest advancements in freight logistics. Key features under consideration include high-capacity electrification systems, elimination of level crossings, and advanced signalling systems such as Kavach to enhance safety and increase throughput.
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the corridor will be updated with revised cost estimates and timelines to ensure improved planning, budgeting and timely execution. The corridor will be divided into suitable segments to facilitate early and simultaneous implementation, with dedicated core teams deployed in the field to monitor progress closely.
The Railway Board has also instructed that all pre-construction activities be comprehensively identified and fast-tracked, alongside simultaneous preparation of contract documents to avoid delays in project rollout.
An assessment of optimum manpower requirements is currently underway, and the Railway Board will receive weekly updates on progress, actions taken and support required to ensure seamless and expeditious implementation of the corridor.
