National Rail Plan and Dedicated Freight Corridors
Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Infrastructure and Connectivity Schemes · Topic 11.7
The National Rail Plan is a long term strategy of the Ministry of Railways, released in draft in December 2020, to create a future-ready railway system by 2030 and to carry out planning up to 2050. It aims to raise the share of rail in freight from about 27 percent to about 45 percent by 2030 and to ease congestion on busy routes. Dedicated Freight Corridors are separate tracks for goods trains built by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited, a special purpose vehicle set up in 2006. The Eastern corridor is about 1,337 km and the Western about 1,506 km.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Infrastructure and Connectivity Schemes
At a Glance
- Plan released Draft in December 2020
- Target 45 percent rail share in freight by 2030
- Corridor builder DFCCIL, set up in 2006
- Eastern corridor About 1,337 km, Ludhiana to Sonnagar
- Western corridor About 1,506 km, JNPT to Dadri
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Infrastructure and Connectivity Schemes
Where Does It Fit?
This topic covers the rail mode of the macro on infrastructure and connectivity. Dedicated freight lines run alongside the industrial corridors and serve the same ports and industry clusters. Previous topic: National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP). Next topic: NITI Aayog NMP 1.0 target Rs 6 lakh crore, FY 2022 to FY…">National Monetisation Pipeline.
What Is the National Rail Plan?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Ministry of Railways, with a draft released in December 2020 |
| Horizon | Vision 2030 for a future-ready system, with planning extending to 2050 |
| Freight share | Raise the share of rail in freight from about 27 percent toward about 45 percent by 2030 |
| Capacity | Create capacity on routes that are heavily used and remove bottlenecks by 2030, so that trains can run on time |
| Speed goal | Raise average freight train speed from about 25 kmph to about 50 kmph on the new lines |
| Tools | New lines, third and fourth lines, electrification, signalling upgrades, and dedicated freight lines |
What Are the Dedicated Freight Corridors?
- Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited: a special purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Railways, set up in 2006 to plan, build and operate the corridors
- Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor: about 1,337 km from Ludhiana in Punjab to Sonnagar in Bihar, passing through Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, with a further section to Dankuni in West Bengal. It is funded mostly by the World Bank
- Western Dedicated Freight Corridor: about 1,506 km from Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra to Dadri in Uttar Pradesh through Gujarat and Rajasthan. It is funded mostly by Japan International Cooperation Agency loans
- Double stack containers: the Western corridor allows double stack container trains and heavier loads, which lowers cost per tonne
- Axle load and length: freight trains on the corridors can carry heavier axle loads and run longer trains than on the normal network
- Status: most of the Eastern corridor and much of the Western corridor have been commissioned, but the last stretch near Mumbai is reported to be pending. Check the latest status
- Link with industry: the corridors run alongside the Delhi Mumbai and Amritsar Kolkata industrial corridors, as in National Industrial Corridor Development Programme
- New corridors: three new corridors have been proposed, namely East Coast, East West and North South, and they remain at the study stage
What Else Should You Remember?
- Reason for freight corridors: the Golden Quadrilateral and its diagonals carry a large share of traffic on a small share of track length, and freight and passenger trains share the same lines
- Effect on passenger trains: freight shifting to its own tracks frees up capacity for faster passenger services on the old lines
- Modal share: the share of rail in freight fell for many years as road took over, and the plan tries to reverse it
- Logistics link: a stronger rail share lowers the cost of logistics, as in PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
- Mission 3000: a goal of carrying about 3,000 million tonnes of freight by 2027 to 2028 has been stated by the Ministry of Railways
- Terminals: Gati Shakti cargo terminals and multimodal logistics parks give last mile links, with policy to allow private terminals
- Land and cost: land acquisition and cost escalation delayed the corridors for years, with the project starting around 2008 and parts opening only in the 2020s
- Electrification: the Indian Railways has electrified most of its broad gauge network, which cuts fuel costs and emissions
- Rolling stock: new wagons, longer trains and improved signalling are part of the plan, with many private wagon schemes
- Safety: the Kavach automatic train protection system is being extended, and it forms part of safety plans of the railway
- Funding: the plan expects large investment from the Government with private participation through public private partnership in some segments
- Concerns: traffic on the corridors has been below early forecasts, since the connection to ports and industry needs last mile links and tariff changes
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Termini: where each corridor starts and ends and the States on the way
- Funding agencies: World Bank for the Eastern corridor and JICA for the Western corridor
- Institution: DFCCIL, its year and its parent ministry
- Targets: the 45 percent freight share by 2030
- Common errors: swapping the funding agencies, or the termini of the two corridors
As an analytical point, moving freight to rail lowers cost and emissions, but the shift needs more than new tracks. Reliable terminals, wagons, tariffs and last mile links decide if traders actually choose rail. The corridors also free capacity for passenger trains.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Corridors Termini and lengths
- Funding World Bank and JICA
- Targets 45 percent freight share
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the scheme that raises money by leasing public assets. Next topic: National Monetisation Pipeline.
Key People and Terms
- DFCCIL Company that builds freight corridors
- Modal share Share of a transport mode in total cargo
- Double stack Containers stacked two high on a wagon
- Axle load Weight carried per axle
- JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency
- Kavach Train protection system
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Plan: 2030 vision, planning to 2050.
- Rail freight share: 27 to 45 percent.
- Eastern: Ludhiana to Sonnagar, World Bank.
- Western: JNPT to Dadri, JICA.
- DFCCIL: set up in 2006.
Do Not Confuse With
- Dedicated freight corridor and industrial corridor A rail line versus a manufacturing belt
- Eastern and Western corridors Ludhiana to Sonnagar versus JNPT to Dadri
- National Rail Plan and the Union Budget for rail A long term strategy versus an annual allocation
Memory Hook
East is Ludhiana to Sonnagar with the World Bank; West is JNPT to Dadri with Japan.
Mains Angle
Questions ask whether a shift of freight to rail is achievable. These points give a balanced frame.
- Benefits Cost, emissions, passenger capacity
- Challenges Delays, last mile, tariff
- Way forward Terminals, private wagons, new corridors
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss how Dedicated Freight Corridors can change the logistics landscape of India and what barriers remain.”
How to Answer
- Aim Raise rail freight share.
- Tools Freight lines and terminals.
- Gaps Delay and last mile.
- Way Terminals and tariff reform.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Rail Plan?
The National Rail Plan is a long term strategy of the Ministry of Railways, released in draft in December 2020, to build a future-ready railway by 2030 and plan up to 2050. Its main goal is to raise the share of rail in freight from about 27 percent to about 45 percent by 2030.
What is a Dedicated Freight Corridor?
A Dedicated Freight Corridor is a separate rail track meant only for goods trains, allowing heavier loads, longer trains and double stack containers. It is built by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited and frees capacity on old lines for faster passenger trains.
What are the two main freight corridors in India?
The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor runs about 1,337 km from Ludhiana to Sonnagar, with a further section to Dankuni, and is funded mainly by the World Bank. The Western runs about 1,506 km from Jawaharlal Nehru Port to Dadri, with Japanese funding.
Who builds the dedicated freight corridors?
The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited, a special purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Railways set up in 2006, builds and operates the corridors. It works with the World Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which give loans for the Eastern and Western corridors.
Why have the freight corridors faced delays?
The corridors faced delays because of land acquisition, forest and utility clearances, cost escalation and problems with contracts. Work began around 2008, and many sections opened only in the 2020s. Traffic has also been lower than early forecasts because last mile links to ports and industry were not ready.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor runs from JNPT to Dadri.
It is about 1,506 km long.
2 The Eastern corridor was funded mainly by Japan.
The World Bank funded it. Japan funded the Western corridor.
3 DFCCIL was set up in 2006.
It is a special purpose vehicle under the Railways Ministry.
4 The National Rail Plan aims to raise rail freight share to 45 percent by 2030.
From about 27 percent.
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