The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) on Wednesday launched its container freight train service from Mangaluru to Morbi in Gujarat, marking a major step in its expansion into end-to-end integrated logistics solutions. The inaugural rake carried polypropylene produced by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL).
CWC Managing Director Santosh Sinha said the corporation’s unique strength lies in its ownership of a vast warehousing network, enabling it to offer complete logistics solutions — from stuffing consignments into containers to unpacking and last-mile delivery. With 741 warehouses across the country, CWC is well-positioned to provide integrated multimodal transportation combined with inventory management as a one-stop supply chain service provider.
The Mangaluru launch, he said, demonstrates CWC’s capability in handling end-to-end multimodal logistics, integrating rail transport with warehousing and container operations. To further enhance efficiency and reduce costs, CWC plans to use containers as temporary warehouses, eliminating the need for unloading, transport to conventional warehouses, and reloading. “This model works out cheaper compared to conventional warehousing,” Mr. Sinha noted.
CWC Director (Marketing & Corporate Planning) Samuel Praveen Kumar said the corporation holds a pan-India Container Train Operator licence, allowing it to run container trains anywhere in the country. As part of its expansion plan, CWC is strengthening its rolling stock capacity. The corporation currently owns 10 BLSS rakes (spine cars), with three more in the pipeline, and operates another 10 rakes on lease, with four additional leased rakes expected soon. This will take the total to 27 BLSS rakes, each capable of carrying 98 TEUs.
He added that the MRPL consignment marks CWC’s first operation on the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited network and its initial penetration into this part of Karnataka. CWC already operates rail-side warehouses at Thokur, Udupi and Verna in Goa, with another facility planned at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, further strengthening its logistics backbone along the west coast.
Meanwhile, Director (Finance) Niraj Priyadarshi said CWC is aggressively digitising its warehouse operations. Nearly 217 foodgrain warehouses have already been digitised, while work is underway to cover the remaining 500-plus warehouses nationwide.
The launch underscores CWC’s strategic shift towards integrated, technology-driven logistics, leveraging its warehousing assets and rail connectivity to support India’s growing industrial and supply chain requirements.
