Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) - strengthening climate resilience
We completed an assessment of climate and weather threats to major freight railway and recommended weather resilience measures including early warning systems and strengthening operational emergency preparedness.
- Client World Bank
- Location Northern India
- Wider
project
team SECON (Sub-consultant to JBA) - Services
Challenge
The World Bank is financing 1193 km of the 1839 km long Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) project in India, which is developing a dedicated railway line parallel to the existing passenger track, connecting Ludhiana, Khurja (Delhi) and Dankuni (Kolkata). The objective of this project is to strengthen the climate resilience of EDFC for the critical climate change parameters of temperature variation, fog and floods.
Solution
Through site visits and interviews with EDFC and Indian Railways staff, the JBA-SECON team, incorporating John Dora Consulting Ltd, identified current practices and procedures for managing weather hazard resilience on the EDFC corridor. A review of international practices of rail freight corridor operators in managing temperature variations and flooding was also undertaken.
The JBA-SECON team developed and led a workshop in New Delhi comprising more than 40 specialists in EDFC and railway resilience. The participatory sessions which were held at the event, ensured all workshop attendees were able to put forward and record their reviews for improved EDFC weather hazard resilience.
Benefit
We developed options with outline costs for rail resilience of weather hazards on the EDFC corridor, ensuring proposals were suited to the EDFC and could be operated by its personnel.
A World Bank Review of the project stated:
The report is now playing a foundational role in guiding Government of India investment decision to increase disaster and climate resilience under the EDFC.
Email Murray Dale for more information about the EDFC project in India. You can also learn more about this project on the World Bank website. Discover more of our projects on our International Development webpage.
