DFCCIL, in collaboration with the Railway Board, hosted a top-level delegation from the International Union of Railways (UIC) for an on-ground study tour of the New Dadri–New Tauru section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. The visit focussed on India’s incredible engineering accomplishments through tunnels, viaducts, and freight corridor innovation.
Introduction:
In a significant engagement showcasing India’s growing leadership in rail freight modernization, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) welcomed dignitaries from the International Union of Railways (UIC) on a study tour of the New Dadri – New Tauru section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).
This field visit was conducted to offer the UIC team a first-hand perspective of the transformative infrastructure work underway, especially across geographically challenging terrain like the Aravalli Hills. The section includes deep rock cuts up to 30 meters, a 1-km high-rise OHE double-line tunnel, and viaducts elevating to 35 meters, highlighting India’s capability to execute complex infrastructure projects.
UIC Delegation was led by International Officials:
- Mr. Lorand Philippe, Director Institutional Relations & Regional Coordinator (Asia Pacific), UIC
- Mr. François Davenne, Director General, UIC
- Ms. Togari Asako, Deputy Director, JR East
- Mr. Sahara Toru, Senior Manager, JR East
- Mr. Park Won-IL, Senior Manager, KNR (Korea National Railway)
- Mr. Sohn Hoon, Executive Director, KNR
The delegation’s composition reflected the global interest in India’s freight corridor model and highlighted the importance of international technical knowledge exchange.
Indian Railway and DFCCIL Officials Present:
The UIC officials were accompanied by several high-ranking dignitaries from Indian Railways and DFCCIL, ensuring a comprehensive technical walkthrough. The visiting officials included-
- Mr. P.R. Parhi, ED/Infra, Railway Board
- Mr. Vikram, Director/Infra, Railway Board
- Mr. Jawaharlal, GGM/Mechanical
- Mr. Gaurav Sharma, GM/Safety
- Mr. Amit Saurastri, GM/Corporate Coordination
- Mr. Vikas Srivastava, GM/S&T
- Mr. Ranvijay, GM/Electrical
- Mr. Anurag Yadav, CGM/Noida
- Mr.R.K. Rastogi, Dy. CPM
- Mr. Rajesh Navhal, DGM/New Prithla
- Mr. S.K. Singh, Manager/Mechanical
- Mr. Vikas Kumar, JM/New Dadri
- Mr. Nitin Mohindru, Manager/CC
Their active involvement helped provide vital technical insights during the field visit, particularly on infrastructure design, safety standards, electrification, and system operations.
Key Highlights of the Study Tour:
- Strategic Engineering Showcase: The delegation explored a deep cut trench (up to 30m) excavated through the Aravalli Hills, which allowed alignment of freight tracks with minimal gradient challenges.
- High-Rise Tunnel and Viaduct: A specially designed double-line overhead electrified tunnel (1 km) and viaducts up to 35 meters high were inspected, illustrating DFCCIL’s engineering prowess.
- Freight-Optimized Infrastructure: The section is a critical link in the Western DFC, ensuring high-speed, uninterrupted cargo movement from ports in the west to industrial hubs inland.
- Safety and Signalling Systems: The officials also reviewed advanced safety protocols and signalling systems incorporated for long-haul freight train operation.
Strategic Importance – Reinventing India’s Freight Future:
The Western DFC, stretching from Dadri (Uttar Pradesh) to JNPT (Maharashtra), is a critical artery for moving goods faster, cheaper, and in an eco-friendly manner. This corridor will-
- Reduce logistics costs
- Decongest passenger rail networks
- Enable double-stack container movement
- Support India’s PM Gati Shakti mission for multimodal connectivity
Strengthening Global Rail Collaboration:
The visit shows India’s commitment to building stronger ties with international rail networks and bodies. It also reinforces DFCCIL’s credibility as a model of infrastructure execution, technological integration, and future-ready logistics frameworks.
The UIC delegation appreciated the initiative, expressing keen interest in ongoing collaborations, knowledge-sharing frameworks, and the possibility of replicating aspects of the DFC model in other regions globally.
Conclusion:
The UIC study tour of the DFCCIL’s New Dadri–New Tauru section underscores India’s engineering excellence and growing global influence in freight rail development. As DFCCIL continues to set records in infrastructure delivery, such collaborations are crucial to shaping efficient, sustainable, and globally integrated freight transportation systems.
Source: DFCCIL | Images Credit: DFCCIL
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