India’s Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) achieved a significant milestone in FY24, witnessing a 142% surge in cargo movement compared to the previous year. According to the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL), the network handled 119,129 Gross Ton Kilometres (GTKMs) in FY24, facilitated by the commissioning of 1,272 km of new tracks. Daily train operations increased by 42%, from 170 trains in FY23 to 241 trains in FY24.
The Eastern and Western DFCs, spanning 2,843 km across 56 districts in seven states, are nearing completion, with 96.4% of the network operational. DFCCIL also achieved over 1,000 “Truck on Train” trips on the Western Corridor, emphasizing its role in reducing road transport dependency.
Capital expenditure for DFCs totaled ₹10,576 crore in FY24, with cumulative project investments reaching ₹94,091 crore. DFCCIL’s revenue from operations rose to ₹4,484 crore in FY24, up from ₹3,141 crore in FY23, though it recorded a net loss of ₹29.59 crore.
The growing reliance on rail freight has moderated road toll revenue growth. Toll revenue growth is projected to slow to 5.5%-6% in FY25, compared to 12% in FY24 and 21.2% in FY23. In H1 FY25, toll revenue growth was muted at 4.8%, reflecting the ongoing inter-modal shift.
While monsoon effects impacted Q2 traffic growth, the latter half of FY25 may show improvement. However, the growing preference for freight corridors is reshaping India’s logistics landscape.
