Indian Railways To Set Up 100 Gati-Shakti Cargo Terminals To Boost Freight Loadings

In order to boost freight loadings, Indian Railways has aimed to operationalise 100 Gati-Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCT) with private participation by 2024.

A new terminal policy called Gati-Shakti Multi Modal Cargo Terminal policy has been issued to facilitate and accelerate development of cargo terminals on the Indian Railways network.

Till now, 10 such terminals have been commissioned while 66 private players have shown interest in setting up such private terminals, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

The railways has given in-principle approval to 36 players for setting up GCT on private land.

With simplified application (online) and approval process, the new terminal policy envisages more players to show interest in setting up GCT.

In order to make quick and hassle-free approvals, no land licence fees need to be charged for the railway land used for connectivity. There would also be no cost of commercial staff to be charged.

The policy envisages that maintenance of track and signalling equipment from the serving station to the terminal to be done by the railways at its own cost while all common-user traffic facilities at the serving station to be constructed and maintained by the railways.

Existing private sidings and private freight terminals also have the option to migrate to the new policy. Construction of cargo terminals on railway land is also permitted.

The new policy is expected to boost development of new terminals — which will, in turn, promote railways’ cargo business and help it achieve a higher modal share of cargo transportation in the country.