Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Bolsters Operations On Indian Railways' Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor

The ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj has provided a significant impetus to freight operations on the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), which commenced services in November 2023.

The Indian Railways has diverted freight trains from its conventional network to the EDFC to accommodate increased passenger train services for the 45-day-long spiritual gathering.

The event, which began on 13 January, is expected to attract 400-450 million devotees.

“The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor was conceptualised with the aim that the freight trains running in the Indian Railways network will eventually be diverted to the EDFC line for smooth and efficient transport of cargo," said a senior official from the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL).

Over 80 per cent of freight trains from the North Central Railways are currently operating on the EDFC during the Mela.

The corridor spans 1,337 km, connecting Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni in West Bengal.

Feeder lines ensure seamless connectivity between the EDFC and the Indian Railways network, allowing efficient loading and unloading of cargo, including coal, fertilisers, food grains, steel coils, limestone, and granite.

Dilip Kumar, executive director of Information and Publicity at the Railway Board, highlighted the temporary nature of the measure, stating, “The freight train diversion to EDFC has been undertaken based on day-to-day requirements. The railway network running through the Kumbh Mela is one of the congested routes of Indian Railways. Senior most officials from Indian Railways are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis.”

The EDFC's alignment strategically bypasses densely populated towns like Prayagraj, Kanpur, and Meerut, minimising disruptions.

A network of junctions facilitates the smooth transfer of traffic between the Indian Railways and the EDFC.

In 2024, the New Khurja Junction to New Rewari Junction route was inaugurated, connecting the EDFC with the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).

The WDFC is expected to be completed by 2025, linking northern India’s hinterlands to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port and strengthening the nation’s freight infrastructure.

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