The Indian Railways is expected to achieve its target of having 100 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCT) ahead of schedule. According to officials aware of the progress, 60 terminals under public public-private partnership (PPP) mode are already operational and the balance 40 are expected to be in place by the end of the current fiscal.
These terminals are used for handling bulk cargo by corporates that have interlinkages with Indian Railways. The GCT operates for non-passenger commercial uses like freight. They are set up under a new policy that helps monetize vacant railway land.
"Target for Gati Shakti Terminals will then be scaled upwards to 200 once 100 terminals are operational," a senior official told ET.
The centre had set a goal of establishing 100 Gati Shakti Terminals in the Union Budget 2022-23. These terminals were to be set up over five years.
Such goals are in line with plans to push for containerization of domestic cargo so that more of it can move by railways. An investment of Rs 5374 crore has been made in setting up the Gati Shakti cargo terminals already operational.
Responding to a query on the freight priorities for the Indian Railways, the official said, "Focus should be on weight goods like coal and cement instead of volume goods like electronics and clothes," while adding, "The Railways will want more containerization of volume cargo to allow speedier handling and more operational efficiency."
While weight goods are moved over dedicated freight trains, volume goods are carried along with passengers in small quantities. Once containerization becomes a norm, the Indian Railways can move volume goods in larger quantities under better-planned services.
These terminals are used for handling bulk cargo by corporates that have interlinkages with Indian Railways. The GCT operates for non-passenger commercial uses like freight. They are set up under a new policy that helps monetize vacant railway land.
"Target for Gati Shakti Terminals will then be scaled upwards to 200 once 100 terminals are operational," a senior official told ET.
The centre had set a goal of establishing 100 Gati Shakti Terminals in the Union Budget 2022-23. These terminals were to be set up over five years.
Such goals are in line with plans to push for containerization of domestic cargo so that more of it can move by railways. An investment of Rs 5374 crore has been made in setting up the Gati Shakti cargo terminals already operational.
Responding to a query on the freight priorities for the Indian Railways, the official said, "Focus should be on weight goods like coal and cement instead of volume goods like electronics and clothes," while adding, "The Railways will want more containerization of volume cargo to allow speedier handling and more operational efficiency."
While weight goods are moved over dedicated freight trains, volume goods are carried along with passengers in small quantities. Once containerization becomes a norm, the Indian Railways can move volume goods in larger quantities under better-planned services.
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