Indian Railways plans to set up 200 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals

The Indian Railways plans to set up an additional 200 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) to boost freight revenue, decongest rail networks, and enable faster movement. This expansion follows the successful implementation of the first 100 GCTs announced in the Union Budget 2022-23. GCTs are multi-modal terminals used by corporates to handle bulk cargo that is transported via rail. They are established under a policy that allows monetization of vacant Railway land through public-private partnerships (PPP). The first 100 GCTs were to be set up over 5 years from 2022-23. Progress of Phase 1 -77 out of the initial 100 GCTs have already been commissioned at a cost of around ₹5,400 crore. These terminals are located in states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. Major operators include Concor, Reliance, Adani, JSW, IOCL, and BPCL, among others.
The remaining terminals are expected to be operational by the end of FY 2024-25.
Buoyed by the positive response, Railways will tender for 200 more GCTs once the first 100 are completed.
The additional terminals are estimated to require ₹12,000-14,000 crore in private investment.
Each terminal is expected to cost an average of ₹65-70 crore, with some ranging from ₹50 crore to higher amounts.
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