Indian Railways has commissioned 142 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) across the country, significantly strengthening India’s multimodal freight infrastructure under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. An additional 310 terminal locations have received in-principle approval, paving the way for further expansion of the rail-based logistics network.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that the 142 operational terminals together have an annual freight handling capacity of 224 million tonnes (MT). During FY 2025-26, these terminals handled 146 million tonnes of cargo, reflecting their growing role in improving freight movement across the country.
The initiative has attracted nearly ₹10,000 crore in private sector investment. Developed under a public-private participation model, Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals are established based on regional industrial demand and existing logistics infrastructure, providing direct rail connectivity to manufacturing hubs, warehouses and industrial clusters.
By bringing rail freight infrastructure closer to production and consumption centres, the terminals reduce first-mile and last-mile transportation costs, improve cargo handling efficiency, and encourage a shift of freight from road to rail. The facilities handle a wide range of commodities, including cement, steel, coal, foodgrains, fertilisers and automobiles.
Among the states, Odisha leads with 12 operational terminals and 36 additional terminals approved, followed by Rajasthan, which has 10 commissioned terminals and 15 more in the pipeline. In Andhra Pradesh, the GCT at Tummalacheruvu in Palnadu district, operational since January 2023, handled more than 1.2 million tonnes of freight during the last financial year.
The Ministry of Railways said the cargo terminal programme is also promoting the development of supporting logistics infrastructure such as warehouses, cold storage facilities and grain silos, helping industries, agricultural producers and exporters improve market access while generating local employment.
The Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal initiative is a key component of the Government of India’s broader strategy to integrate railways, roads, ports and airports into a seamless multimodal logistics ecosystem, improve supply chain efficiency and reduce overall logistics costs, thereby enhancing India’s trade competitiveness.
