First Phase of Eastern DFC Unlikely in 2018

Delhi NCR a Hot Favourite of Chinese Global Cos

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Steel Insights Bureau

The first phase of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), which is scheduled to be completed by August 2018, may not come up during the current calendar year, Indian Railway sources said.

“It is unlikely. I don’t think the first phase of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor will be completed by 2018,” a senior Railways official said.

The first phase of the 1,856 km Eastern DFC will run through 6 states to speed up goods traffic and ease the burden on existing tracks between Howrah and New Delhi. It is learnt that in order to speed up the construction, Railways is using the New Track Construction machines which can lay around 1.5 km railway tracks in a day.

Toll policy may take a toll on road revenues

The possible switch to pay-as-you-use toll policy from the current open/flat rate tolling system, announced in the FY19 Union Budget, could reduce revenue potential for roads and bring a paradigm shift in the way of operations, says India Rating and Research (Ind-Ra). However, this policy is favourable for passenger car units as the traveller would pay only for the distance travelled. This move could also aid in arresting traffic leakages in some routes to a certain extent, provided the economics favour the usage of the stretch.