Dedicated Freight Corridor network completed; PM Modi unveils ₹35,000 crore projects in Vadodara
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday marked the completion of India's more than 2,800-km Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) network with the inauguration of the final sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor in Vadodara, where he also unveiled and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth more than ₹35,000 crore.
The three newly commissioned WDFC sections cover 326 route kilometres and have been developed at a cost of more than ₹20,700 crore. The sections are Sanand (North)-Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale-Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT).
Speaking at the ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ event, Modi described the completion of the DFC as a “historic milestone” for 21st-century India and linked faster connectivity with the country's development goals.
“For a Viksit Bharat, we need connectivity that is not only convenient but also fast enough to keep pace with the times. Vadodara is the home of the Gati Shakti University. Today, the final links of the Dedicated Freight Corridor have also been connected from here,” Modi said.
“The Dedicated Freight Corridor project, spanning over 2,800 kilometres, has been completed today. A truly historic milestone has been achieved for 21st-century India,” he added.
Modi recalls DFC's long journey
The Prime Minister also recalled the long gestation period of the freight corridor project, which was first conceived in the early 2000s.
“This Dedicated Freight Corridor is a testament to how the country’s work culture has transformed over the past 12 years,” Modi said.
“The idea for this Dedicated Freight Corridor began in 2004. In 2006, a special company was established to carry out this work, and until 2014, files just kept shuffling from one place to another.”
“Unfortunately, see that even these files weren’t fortunate enough to get a dedicated corridor. Files would get stuck, hang around, wander aimlessly,” he added.
The DFC network is intended to enable faster movement of freight and increase the capacity available on existing railway routes for passenger services. The Western DFC connects the northern and western parts of the country with the JNPT, providing a dedicated rail route for freight movement between industrial centres and the port.
During the event, Modi also flagged off freight train services from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umbergaon and New JNPT.
The commissioning of the final WDFC sections is expected to strengthen the movement of export-import cargo and improve connectivity between manufacturing centres and ports.
₹9,700 crore railway projects
Apart from the DFC, Modi laid the foundation stones for three railway projects spanning 329 km and involving an investment of more than ₹9,700 crore.
These include the third and fourth railway lines between Vadodara and Ratlam, gauge conversion of the Miyagam Karjan-Choranda-Malsar section and doubling of the Vishwamitri-Dabhoi section.
The projects are expected to add capacity to the railway network, ease congestion and improve passenger and freight movement between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
The Prime Minister also flagged off a new passenger train service between Vadodara and Tanda Road. The service is expected to benefit passengers in Vadodara as well as Chhota Udepur and Alirajpur districts.
He also dedicated the Jobat-Tanda Road new railway line to the nation. The line is part of the Chhota Udepur-Dhar railway project and will connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the railway network.
₹1,780 crore highway projects
Three National Highway projects worth around ₹1,780 crore were also taken up during Modi's visit.
These include six-laning of the Kamrej-Chalthan section of NH-48, additional structures including major bridges over the Tapi and Narmada on the Vadodara-Surat section of NH-48, and grade-separated structures at Abhava, Mindhola and Khajod junctions on NH-53.
Two six-lane flyovers at Kandari Chokdi and Luvara Patia were also inaugurated. The projects are aimed at improving traffic flow and road connectivity along key stretches in Gujarat.
Gujarat projects include floating solar plant
The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for Gujarat government projects worth around ₹2,600 crore.
These include Phase II of the Vadodara Urban Development Authority Ring Road and a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam.
The package also includes a new Vadodara Municipal Corporation office, housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and a water-supply project covering 11 villages in eastern Vadodara.
Modi praises Vadodara's cleanliness campaign
During his address, Modi congratulated Vadodara residents for their participation in the ‘Swachhata Se Swagat’ campaign.
“On this festival of development, with the spirit of selfless service through which all of you conducted the ‘Swachhata Se Swagat’ campaign across the entire city of Vadodara—for this, from the bottom of my heart, I extend my warmest congratulations and highest praise to every single citizen of Vadodara,” he said.
Modi said the development projects being launched in Vadodara would give “even greater momentum” to India's journey towards a Viksit Bharat.
“Today I have come amongst you to impart even greater momentum to the journey towards a Viksit Bharat. A short while ago here, foundation stones were laid and projects worth thousands of crores of rupees connected to the nation’s development were dedicated to the nation,” he said.