India's Cargo Revolution: 112 Gati Shakti Terminals Commissioned

Indian Railways has commissioned 112 Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminals (GCTs), surpassing its FY2024–25 target of 100 terminals and marking a significant milestone in the government’s cargo infrastructure development agenda.

Launched in December 2021 under the Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal Policy, the initiative is designed to boost private sector participation, expand terminal capacity, and increase Indian Railways’ share in the nation’s cargo movement.

Since commissioning, the 112 terminals have collectively handled over 301.7 million tonnes of cargo, including coal, containers, cement, fertilisers, petroleum products, foodgrains, automobiles, and crane consignments. Terminals are being developed along both the Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridors, on a mix of private and railway-owned land.

The policy offers two development models:

Schedule 1: Terminals developed by private entities on their own land.

Schedule 2: Projects on land owned by Indian Railways or the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation.

Eligible developers include logistics companies, container train operators, warehouse investors, and manufacturers. To attract private investment, the policy features simplified approval processes, reduced land licence fees, and common-user terminal provisions.

This achievement reflects Indian Railways’ progress toward building an integrated, efficient, and multimodal freight ecosystem aligned with India’s broader logistics and infrastructure goals.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.