JICA Supported Western Dedicated Freight Corridor Completed, Marking Landmark Milestone in India–Japan Infrastructure Cooperation JICA Supported Western Dedicated Freight Corridor Completed, Marking Landmark Milestone in India–Japan Infrastructure Cooperation

JICA Supported Western Dedicated Freight Corridor Completed, Marking Landmark Milestone in India–Japan Infrastructure Cooperation

Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated key sections of the Freight Corridor to the nation

Mumbai, 8th September 2026 (GNI) : J apan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), achieved a landmark milestone, with the completion and fully operationalisation of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). The Dedicated Freight Corridor has been developed with financial and technical support from JICA, in collaboration with the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), the implementing agency under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today dedicated key sections of the completed Western Dedicated Freight Corridor to the nation from Vadodara, Gujarat. The three sections, New Sanad North – New Makarpura, New Umbergaon – New Saphale, and New Saphale – New JNPT, together cover a total length of 326 KM and have been constructed at a cumulative cost of ₹20,703 crore.

The event at Maharashtra location was graced by the presence of Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra; Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Ms. Sato Hitomi, Consul-General, Consulate-General of Japan in Mumbai; Mr. TAKEUCHI Takuro, Chief Representative, JICA India along with Shri Praveen Kumar, Managing Director, DFCCIL and other dignitaries.

The completion of the 1,506 KM long Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), now connects Dadri in Uttar Pradesh with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) in Mumbai, marking a major milestone in the modernisation of India’s freight transportation network. This project represents one of the most significant achievements of India–Japan cooperation in large-scale infrastructure development.

JICA has extended cumulative Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans of JPY 620,787 million (INR 37,658 crore) to DFCCIL, supporting India’s efforts to modernise, enhance logistics infrastructure and strengthen connectivity along the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor.

On this occasion, Ms. Sato Hitomi, Consul-General, Consulate-General of Japan in Mumbai said, “the inauguration of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor shows another completion of the flagship project of Japan-India cooperation. As a national logistics artery, this high-capacity, fully electrified corridor will accelerate logistics, enhance industrial competitiveness, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and ease congestion on passenger lines. Japan is proud to have participated in this initiative through ODA scheme. JICA and Japanese and Indian companies and experts have shared their knowledge and worked hard to realize the project.”

Mr. TAKEUCHI Takuro, Chief Representative, JICA India, shared the following comments: “WDFC is not merely a railway project. It is a story of vision, perseverance, and partnership. When the idea was first proposed, many thought it was too ambitious. Today, it stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through long-term commitment and cooperation. JICA remains fully committed to supporting India’s continued development and to further strengthening the special strategic and global partnership between the two countries.”

The commissioning of these three sections of the WDFC will provide direct rail connectivity to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) through the WDFC network, enabling faster and more efficient cargo movement. The corridor connects key industrial hubs in Palghar, Thane and Raigad in Maharashtra with industrial centres across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat, linking them to ports and national markets and supporting regional economic growth. It is also expected to reduce logistics costs and transit time while helping decongest Mumbai’s railway network.eom GNI