Lok Sabha Question No. 3166 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Dedicated Freight Corridors Project in Gorakhpur
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ravindra Shukla Alias Ravi Kishan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3166 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2025

## DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDORS PROJECT IN GORAKHPUR

† 3166. SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of the Dedicated  Freight corridor (DFC) project in Gorakhpur;
- (b) the number of new railway lines being constructed or upgraded under the DFC project;
- (c)  the  expected  benefits  of  the  DFC  on  the  movement  of  goods  and economic development in the region;
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to integrate the new infrastructure with the existing transport network in Gorakhpur; and
- (e) the possibility of employment generation and industrial development in Gorakhpur due to the DFC project?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to  (e):  Ministry  of  Railways  has  taken  up  construction  of  two Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) viz. Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) from Ludhiana to Sonnagar (1337 Km) and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) to Dadri (1506 Km). Out of total 2843 Km, 2741 Route Kilometers (96.4%) has been commissioned and operational.

Dedicated  Freight  Corridor  (DFC)  Project  will  have  positive  impact  on transportation and logistic sector as it will enable enhanced movement of  Double  Stack  Container  (DSC)  trains,  higher  axle  load  trains,  faster access of northern hinterland by Western Ports and development of new terminals/linkages with industries along the DFC. The Eastern DFC will mostly cater to mineral traffic from Eastern India. These developments will enable reduction in logistic cost.

Railway projects are surveyed/ sanctioned/executed Zonal Railway-wise and  not  State-wise/Region-wise  as  Indian  Railway  projects  may  span across State/Region boundaries. Railway projects are sanctioned on the basis  of  remunerativeness,  traffic  projections,  last  mile  connectivity, missing links and alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, demands raised by State Governments, Central Ministries, Members  of  Parliament,  other  public  representatives,  Railway's  own operational/requirement,  socio-economic  considerations  etc.  depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds.

For improving the connectivity in Gorakhpur, 4 major railway projects (i) Anandnagar-Ghughli  via  Maharajganj  new  line  (53  Km),  (ii)  SahjanwaDohrighat  new  line (81 Km),  (iii)  Gorakhpur-Valmikinagar  (96  Km) doubling  and  (iv)  Domingarh-Gorakhpur-Gorakhpur  Cantt.-Kusumhi  3rd line and Gorakhpur-Nakaha Jungle Doubling (21 Km) have been sanctioned. This will lead to 85 lakhs human  days employment generation.

Further, as on 01.04.2024, 68 Railway projects (16 New Line, 03 Gauge Conversion and 49 Doubling), of total length of 5,874 Km costing ₹92,001 crore  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State    of    Uttar    Pradesh    including Gorakhpur,  are  at  various  stages  of  planning   and implementation, out of which 1,313 Km  length has been commissioned and an expenditure  of  ₹28,366  crore  has  been  incurred  upto  March  2024.  The status of work is summarized as under:-

| Plan Head                 |   No. of projects |   Total Length (in Km) |   Length Commissioned (in Km) |   Expenditure upto March 2024 (₹in Cr) |
|---------------------------|-------------------|------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| New Lines                 |                16 |                   1740 |                           297 |                                   8672 |
| Gauge Conversion          |                 3 |                    261 |                             0 |                                     26 |
| Doubling / Multi tracking |                49 |                   3873 |                          1016 |                                  19668 |
| Total                     |                68 |                   5874 |                          1313 |                                  28366 |

Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works,  falling fully/partly in Uttar Pradesh is as under:

| Period   | Outlay                             |
|----------|------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹1,109 crore/year                  |
| 2024-25  | ₹19,848 crore (More than 17 times) |

The details  of  commissioning/laying  of    new  track  falling  fully/partly  in the State of Uttar Pradesh during 2009-14 and 2014-24 is as under:-

| Period   | New Track Commissioned   | Average Commissioning of new tracks   |
|----------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 996 Km                   | 199.2 Km/year                         |
| 2014-24  | 4,902 Km                 | 490.2Km/year (More than 2 times)      |

Various steps taken  by  the  Government  for  speedy  approval  and implementation of Railway projects include (i) setting up of Gati Shakti units (ii) prioritisation of projects (iii) substantial increase in allocation of funds on priority projects (iv) delegation of powers at field level (v) close monitoring    of    progress    of  project  at  various  levels,  and  (vi)  regular follow up with State Governments and concerned authorities for expeditious  land  acquisition,  forestry  and  Wildlife  clearances  and  for resolving other issues pertaining to projects. This has led to substantial increase in rate of commissioning since 2014.

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