New Delhi: The government’s Gati Shakti Multi Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) policy has mobilised private investment of approximately Rs 10,000 crore.
So far, 142 GCTs have been commissioned with a rail freight handling capacity of 224 million tonnes per annum, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
In addition, in principle approvals have been granted for the development of another 310 GCTs. The location of the GCTs is decided on the basis of demand from industry, potential cargo traffic, availability of railway infrastructure and overall logistics potential of the area, the minister said.
The Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal policy has facilitated the development of modern multimodal cargo terminals closer to production and consumption centres, thereby improving rail connectivity for local industries, agricultural produce and other commodities.
The policy has enabled the creation of warehousing, silos, cold storage and other value added logistics facilities. This has enhanced the competitiveness of local industries and farmers while generating employment and promoting regional economic development.
The Gati Shakti cargo terminals cater to a wide range of commodities including cement, steel, foodgrains, fertilisers, coal, fly ash, minerals, containers, automobiles, agricultural produce and other bulk as well as non bulk commodities.
The policy has benefited key sectors such as cement, steel, power, mining, agriculture, logistics and manufacturing by providing improved rail connectivity and modern cargo handling infrastructure.
The development of GCTs has enhanced rail freight movement through faster and more efficient loading and unloading, reduced first mile and last mile logistics costs, improved wagon turnaround, and facilitated modal shift of freight from road to rail, thereby improving the overall efficiency and competitiveness of rail based logistics.
As many as 12 GCTs have been set up in Odisha, with in principle approvals for another 36 locations in the state. Five GCTs have been commissioned in Andhra Pradesh, with approvals for another 14 locations. Rajasthan has 10 GCTs, with approvals for 15 more.
Similarly, five GCTs have been commissioned in Madhya Pradesh, with approvals for 19 more. Bihar has five GCTs with approvals for another eight, while Karnataka has four functioning terminals with approvals for another 18 locations, the minister added.
(IANS)
