Press Release

New Delhi, March 27, 2020: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed an agreement with the Government of India to provide an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of 130,000 million Japanese Yen (approximately INR 8,553 Crore) for the "Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Project (Phase 1) (IV)".

The objective of the Project is to cope up with increase in freight transport demand in India by constructing new dedicated freight railway system between Delhi and Mumbai, thereby promoting comprehensive regional economic development along the freight corridor as the backbone of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial corridor (DMIC) development plan.

The ODA loan agreement was signed between Dr. C.S. Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA India.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA India said, "JICA is committed towards the development of infrastructure in transportation sector. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor being developed by the project runs between Delhi and Mumbai and covers the areas where significant commercial and industrial development is seen. The Western DFC Project is an important part of the "Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) initiative", which is part of the Japanese-Indian collaborative Project aimed at comprehensive regional development. It will help to promote comprehensive regional economic development along the freight corridor in DMIC area."

In this project phase 1, a new 950km freight line (Rewari to Vadodara) connecting the major cities in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana states has being constructed. The Project will help in creating India's largest industrial belt in DMIC area by linking the industrial parks and harbors of the states between Delhi and Mumbai in order to promote foreign export and direct investment.

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is the Executing Agency of the Project.

In the transportation sector, JICA has projects all over India, both in mega cities and in rural areas, amounting to ODA loan of over 2,900 billion Japanese Yen (approximately INR 193,000 crore) extended since 1982/83. JICA supports various aspects of transport, such as formulation of masterplans, assistance for the introduction of related technologies, construction of roads, bridges, railways, metros, and more.

Mr. Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA India, signing the loan the agreements

Total 9 loan agreements got signed

About JICA

Established, by a specific law, as an incorporated administrative institution under the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to contribute to the promotion of international cooperation, as a sole Japanese governmental agency in charge of ODA implementation. JICA is the world's largest bilateral donor agency. JICA works as a bridge between Japan and emerging countries, and provides assistance in forms of loan, grant and technical cooperation so that the emerging countries can strengthen their capabilities.

For further information, please contact:

JICA India Office
Shushaku Takada / Vini Sharma
+91 11 49097000
Takada.Shusaku@jica.go.jp
Sharmavini.id@jica.go.jp

MSL India
Nishtha Grover/Saloni Sachdeva
(+91) 9818021223/ 9999427000
Nishtha.grover@mslgroup.com
Saloni.sachdeva@mslgroup.com