The Crossbill News Desk
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways has emphasised the need for swift implementation of the proposed Dankuni–Surat Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), describing it as a crucial step toward strengthening India’s freight transport infrastructure.
The 2,052-km corridor, announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, is expected to significantly enhance logistics efficiency and freight connectivity across eastern, central and western India.
In its report on Demands for Grants 2026-27, the committee underlined the strategic importance of the project, which will pass through West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Highlighting the economic advantages of the corridor, the panel stated, “The Committee view that announcement of the Dankuni-Surat Dedicated Freight Corridor in Budget, 2026 represents a strategically significant expansion of the freight network and its timely execution and cost control will ensure economic and operational benefits, including decongestion of conventional routes and improved freight efficiency.”
The committee also urged Indian Railways to ensure closer integration of freight corridors with industrial corridors, ports and multimodal logistics hubs to maximise operational efficiency and secure long-term financial sustainability. It recommended expanding the Joint Parcel Product–Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) along routes with high freight demand.
According to the proposal, the Dankuni–Surat DFC will connect with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, which runs from Sahnewal near Ludhiana in Punjab through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand before terminating at Dankuni in West Bengal.
The project will also complement the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor linking Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai via Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The committee noted that coordinated execution of these freight corridors would help ease congestion on existing railway lines, improve cargo movement and support industrial growth across multiple regions, reinforcing the role of dedicated freight networks in India’s long-term logistics planning.
The 2,052-km corridor, announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, is expected to significantly enhance logistics efficiency and freight connectivity across eastern, central and western India.
In its report on Demands for Grants 2026-27, the committee underlined the strategic importance of the project, which will pass through West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Highlighting the economic advantages of the corridor, the panel stated, “The Committee view that announcement of the Dankuni-Surat Dedicated Freight Corridor in Budget, 2026 represents a strategically significant expansion of the freight network and its timely execution and cost control will ensure economic and operational benefits, including decongestion of conventional routes and improved freight efficiency.”
The committee also urged Indian Railways to ensure closer integration of freight corridors with industrial corridors, ports and multimodal logistics hubs to maximise operational efficiency and secure long-term financial sustainability. It recommended expanding the Joint Parcel Product–Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) along routes with high freight demand.
According to the proposal, the Dankuni–Surat DFC will connect with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, which runs from Sahnewal near Ludhiana in Punjab through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand before terminating at Dankuni in West Bengal.
The project will also complement the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor linking Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai via Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The committee noted that coordinated execution of these freight corridors would help ease congestion on existing railway lines, improve cargo movement and support industrial growth across multiple regions, reinforcing the role of dedicated freight networks in India’s long-term logistics planning.
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