'The western DFC is an important infrastructure project recently identified as an iconic project to be specially monitored,' Soni said.

'By connecting the raw material production areas with the consumption centres and linking both to major ports, DFC will positively impact overall growth rates and efficiency in the Indian economy.

'Further, the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor (DMIC) coming up along the western DFC will have a multiplier effect on industrial production, employment generation and development of the region as whole,' she added.

Indian Railways have decided to develop the western and eastern DFCs along its busy trunk routes to augment the transport capacity and meet the growing requirements of moving freight.

The two DFCs are 'one of the most ambitious projects Indian Railways has ever taken up. Once completed, they would meet the transport requirement of the two busy trunk routes for the next 15 to 20 years', an official statement said.

The eastern DFC, the modalities for which are being worked out, will extend 1,806 km from Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni near Kolkata. It will be extended in future to serve the new deep sea port in the Kolkata area and to largely serve coal and steel traffic.