For first time, entire track laying of DFC to be done using NTC machine

In a boost to the railways' efforts to use technology to ease infrastructure work, for the first time in India, the entire track laying of the Dedicated Freight Corridor will be done through the New Track Construction (NTC) machine, the implementing agency of the project DFCCIL said on Wednesday.

New Delhi: NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar and Railway Board Chairman Vinod Kumar Yadav on Wednesday, had an inspection of New Track Construction (NTC) machine which will be used for track laying of Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC).

The inspection was being conducted at the Khurja-Dadri section of eastern DFC, which is the working site of NTC Machine. It has a station and a total number of 96 bridges consisting of 5 major, 51 minor, 39 road under bridges and a rail flyover.

The implementing agency of the project, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) said in a statement that it is for the first time in India that the entire track laying is being done through NTC Machine, aiming to boost railways' efforts to use technology to ease out the work of infrastructure.

While appreciating the work done by DFCCIL, Rajiv Kumar tweeted, "Impressed by the speedy implementation of the project which is scheduled to be completed in 2022 and will act as a crucial multiplier for the Indian Economy. My compliments to team DFCCIL and Indian Railways."

However, Railway Board Chairman, while addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, said they the project will be completed by December 2021 and expressed confidence that DFCCIL will achieve the target.

The Khurja-Dadri Section is the connecting link between the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors having the capacity to run heavy haul and long haul freight trains at 100 kmph.

The entire track laying of DFC is being undertaken by NTC machine which has a capacity to lay 1.5 km track per day, ensuring safety and precision and reliability, informed DFCCIL in a statement. Earlier, a maximum of 150-200 metres of track could have been laid.

Currently, seven NTC machines have been deployed for this project with four in Eastern DFC and three in Western DFC.

Four NTC machines are deployed in the Allahabad – New Bhaupur, Allahabad–Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya junction, Bhaupur–Bhadan, Khurja Dadri sections and in WDFC, three NTC machines are deployed at Palanpur-Makarpura, Gothangam-Baroda and Anchali-Sachin sections respectively.