Southern Railway on Wednesday inaugurated the second Gati-Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) of the Chennai division at Ponneri, marking a significant boost to the region’s freight infrastructure and logistics efficiency.
Developed by Sical Multi-modal and Rail Transport Limited, the new terminal enhances multi-modal connectivity and supports the Indian Railways’ broader mission to expand freight capacity under Mission 3000 MT.
The inaugural service—a 45-BLCA wagon rake—was flagged off from SICAL Multimodal and Rail Transport Limited at Ponneri to the Green Field Private Freight Terminal (GFMK) under the South Eastern Railway. Covering 1,389 km, the rake is expected to generate ₹14.80 lakh in freight earnings. The ceremony was led by Vipin Kumar, Additional General Manager, Southern Railway, accompanied by senior officials and industry representatives.
According to Southern Railway, the terminal is fully equipped and authorised to handle a wide range of commodities, including containers, food grains, cement, iron and steel. Strategically located to optimise freight movement, the facility is expected to handle 21 rakes per month in its initial phase.
The new Gati-Shakti terminal aims to unlock new traffic streams, improve freight mobility, and strengthen collaboration between the Railways and industry players in building world-class logistics ecosystems.
Southern Railway noted that the inauguration is a key milestone for the division as it embraces the future of freight transportation and aligns with India’s logistics transformation goals under Mission 3000 MT, which targets handling 3,000 million tonnes of freight annually by 2030.