New Delhi: With the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, the Indian Railways’ freight operations are taking a new direction. According to media reports, to boost freight operations on the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), the Indian Railways has shifted freight trains from its normal network to the EDFC. The aim is to facilitate the operation of passenger trains so that more devotees can reach the Mela site.
EDFC’s Role in Managing Maha Kumbh Mela Passenger Traffic
According to a report from ET Infra, a senior official from the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd stated that Indian Railways has redirected freight trains, which normally run on the regular railway network, to the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC).
This change aims to manage traffic and allow more passenger trains for the Maha Kumbh Mela. Reports indicate that 80 per cent of North Central Railway’s freight trains operate on the EDFC during this event. Indian Railways and the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) have an agreement in which Indian Railways pays for using the EDFC tracks.
Main items for cargo transportation
During the Maha Kumbh Mela, most freight trains will operate on the EDFC route. Feeder lines will help these trains connect to the Indian Railways network to load and unload cargo.
During the Maha Kumbh Mela, trains on the EDFC carry items like coal, fertilizers, food grains, steel coils, limestone, and granite. Feeder lines connect these freight trains to the Indian Railways network, allowing them to unload and pick up new goods.
EDFC: A dedicated freight lane
The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor stretches 1,337 km from Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankoi in West Bengal. Its main goal is to move freight trains off the Indian Railways network to the EDFC, making freight transport more efficient.
Consideration of cargo operation after Maha Kumbh Mela
DFCCIL wants to keep freight operations on the EDFC after the Maha Kumbh Mela ends. Eventually, they aim to shift all freight trains to the EDFC network. However, a senior Indian Railways official noted that, for now, these freight operations are temporary and intended to ease pressure on the railway network.
Future Plans of EDFC
The EDFC network was commissioned in 2024 between New Khurja Junction and New Rewari Junction, linking it to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). While EDFC construction is finished, the WDFC is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, providing direct access from North India to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
About Maha Kumbh
The Maha Kumbh Mela started on January 13 and will last 45 days in Prayagraj. It is expected to attract 40 to 45 crore devotees this year and will end on February 26, 2025.
To accommodate the massive influx of pilgrims for the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Indian Railways strategically shifted 80 per cent of North Central Railway’s freight trains to the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC). The EDFC, stretching 1337 km, carries essential goods like coal and food grains, connecting via feeder lines to the main railway network. Biz News Business News – Personal Finance News, Share Market News, BSE/NSE News, Stock Exchange News Today
