India is set to develop exclusive container rail terminals at 23 strategic locations across the country to enhance export-import (exim) cargo movement via the Indian Railways. The initiative aims to encourage containerization and boost the efficiency of freight operations.
As part of the plan, lucrative financial incentives will be offered to private concessionaires for establishing these dedicated terminals, with bulk cargo like coal and iron ore explicitly excluded from operations.
The proposed container terminals will be distributed across key states: Maharashtra will host five, Tamil Nadu four, Rajasthan three, and Delhi and Haryana two each. Additional terminals are planned in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Indian Railways transported 85.58 million tonnes (mt) of containers in 2023-24, a rise from 79.22 mt the previous year. Over 80% of this volume catered to Exim trade. The 2024-25 budget projects 91 mt of container cargo, with an expected revenue of ₹9,164.47 crore.
To attract private sector participation, the railways will allow operators to recover investments through concessional loading charges. The terminals will also operate under a hub-and-spoke model, enabling freight train operators to consolidate containers from various locations while benefiting from long-distance cargo transport rates, according to Manish Puri, president of the Association of Container Train Operators.