Ashwini Vaishnaw announced 7 new Gati Shakti rail cargo terminals for Odisha for freight efficiency and boost the industry.
The state of Odisha is scheduled to receive seven new Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminals (GCTs) to stimulate its logistics and industrial sectors. This announcement was made by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Rajya Sabha.
This development forms part of a larger nationwide strategy to significantly improve freight handling efficiency and reduce logistics costs across the Indian railway network.
To date, Odisha has already commissioned 10 GCT facilities, which are actively strengthening the industrial supply chain and contributing to the local economy. The approval for seven additional terminals is expected to further solidify the region’s economic infrastructure.
The GCT policy, originally introduced in December 2021, aims to accelerate the construction of new cargo terminals. It attracts additional rail freight business by providing a streamlined application and approval process. Crucially, applicants are exempt from departmental charges or land license fees for railway land used for connectivity, with the railways responsible for building and maintaining common-user facilities at serving stations.
National and Local Impact
- National Expansion: Vaishnaw confirmed that 120 GCT locations have been commissioned across the nation, with a further 133 sites in various stages of development.
- Local Example: A successful example of the initiative is the GCT commissioned in Jakhapura, Jajpur district, under the East Coast Railway (ECoR) division last month. Established for ₹36.85 crore, the terminal can handle four lines and is projected to manage around 86 train movements per month. It handles cement outward, alongside clinker, slag, and gypsum inward.
Sources from the East Coast Railway (ECoR) stated that these terminals are critical to the PM Gati Shakti – National Master Plan, aiming for integrated, seamless, and multimodal national connectivity, thereby strengthening India’s position as a major global logistics hub.
