Veldurthi Goods Shed in Andhra Pradesh has successfully handled its first-ever container rake after being notified as an Exclusive Container Rail Terminal (ECRT) under Indian Railways’ policy to promote containerised freight movement, marking a significant milestone in strengthening multimodal logistics for the region.
The inaugural container rake transported 2,760 tonnes of pig iron from Veldurthi in Andhra Pradesh to ICD Phillaur in Punjab through Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), supporting the steel industry’s long-distance cargo requirements through rail-based container logistics.
The cargo originated from the Jairaj Ispat plant located in the Orvakal Mega Industrial Hub near Veldurthi in Kurnool district. The Orvakal Industrial Node is being developed under the Hyderabad–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC), a key component of India’s industrial corridor programme aimed at enhancing manufacturing competitiveness and logistics efficiency.
The commissioning of container operations at Veldurthi provides industries in the Orvakal industrial cluster with direct access to the national container rail network through the nearest railhead. This is expected to reduce logistics costs, improve transit efficiency, and facilitate seamless movement of industrial cargo to markets across the country.
The development also highlights the growing role of Indian Railways in supporting emerging manufacturing hubs through dedicated freight infrastructure. By enabling rail-based container transportation, the ECRT at Veldurthi is expected to promote more economical, efficient, and environmentally sustainable freight movement while strengthening the logistics ecosystem of the Hyderabad–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.
The successful handling of the first container rake underscores the strategic importance of rail connectivity in accelerating industrial growth and enhancing the competitiveness of India’s expanding manufacturing corridors.