Indian Railways Reaches Milestone of 150 Operational Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals Across India as Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Flags Off Inaugural Stainless-Steel Salt Rake from Shivlakha to Mithapur

GANDHINAGAR / KACHCHH — In a major expansion of rail-linked freight infrastructure designed to eliminate first- and last-mile logistics friction across western industrial corridors, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has officially inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, and laid the foundation stone for five Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) across Gujarat. The ceremony was marked by the formal commissioning of the newly developed multi-modal terminal at Shivlakha in Kachchh district and the laying of the foundation stone for a multi-modal freight terminal at Linch in Mehsana district.

With the operationalization of these terminals, Indian Railways has officially reached the milestone of 150 operational Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals nationwide, expanding high-throughput private and public railhead capacity to accelerate the modal shift from highway trucking to electrified freight lines.

Multi-Terminal Activation Across Gujarat’s Industrial Triangle

The infrastructure rollout targets critical mineral, manufacturing, and port hinterland junctions across Gujarat:

  • Shivlakha GCT (Kachchh): Developed by private logistics concessionaire KMT Engineering (a subsidiary of Kalyani Cast Tech) over the Palanpur–Samakhiali (PNU–SIOB) section under Western Railway’s Ahmedabad Division, the CC+8-track terminal provides heavy-haul rail evacuation directly out of the resource-rich Kutch basin.

  • Linch GCT (Mehsana): Slated to anchor automotive, heavy machinery, and engineering components originating from North Gujarat’s manufacturing belt, the Linch terminal will provide direct siding loops connecting into the broader Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) alignment.

  • Bhimasar (Kachchh), Devaliya (Morbi), and Chandisar (Banaskantha): Formally dedicated to the nation alongside Shivlakha, these three terminals provide dedicated railhead sidings for ceramics and tiles from Morbi, agricultural commodities from Banaskantha, and heavy industrial cargo from Kachchh.

Innovation in Freight: Dedicated Stainless-Steel Salt Rakes

Marking the maiden commercial movement from the Shivlakha GCT, the Railway Minister flagged off an inaugural freight train carrying industrial salt destined for Mithapur.

Addressing chronic operational challenges historically associated with salt transportation—including salt moisture retention, corrosion of conventional steel wagons, and excessive tare weight—Indian Railways deployed newly engineered lightweight stainless-steel salt containers. These specialized units feature top-loading hatches and side-discharge doors, preventing cargo contamination, mitigating wagon shell corrosion, and accelerating railcar unloading cycles at destination processing plants.

Railway Modernization in the Kachchh Belt

The activation of the GCTs forms part of an ongoing ₹5,600-crore railway infrastructure modernization package in the Kachchh region:

  • Multi-Tracking Port Corridors: Indian Railways has completed four-lining across the Samakhiali–Bhachau and Gandhidham–Adipur industrial stretches, while track doubling between Adipur and Bhuj is proceeding toward early completion to unclog marine evacuation lines feeding Kandla (Deendayal Port) and Mundra.

  • Deep Hinterland Rail Expansion: Following the conversion of the Bhuj–Naliya section to broad gauge, construction has been sanctioned on a new rail line from Naliya to Jakhau Port, securing future connectivity for coastal industrial developments and strategic defense logistical assets.

  • Passenger and Operational Synergies: The program also included the commissioning of Gopalpur railway station, which eliminates operational locomotive reversal delays at Gandhidham for trains operating between Ahmedabad and Bhuj, alongside a new commercial halt for the Bhuj–Shalimar Express at Anjar.

Ministerial Commentary and Macroeconomic Vision

Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw stated:

"Reaching 150 operational Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals nationwide is a testament to the speed at which India is building a unified, multi-modal logistics backbone under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. For decades, essential commodities like salt and industrial inputs moved on congested highways or in outdated rolling stock.

By deploying specialized stainless-steel containers and opening modern terminals like Shivlakha, Linch, and Devaliya, we are connecting factory gates and salt pans directly to the national rail grid. These terminals expand capacity, de-bottleneck our major western ports, and lower the delivered cost of logistics—making Indian goods more competitive across domestic and global markets."

Logistics Cost Compression

Transport planners estimate that loading bulk and containerized cargo directly onto freight rakes at dedicated GCT sidings eliminates intermediate multi-axle drayage, compressing per-tonne inland haulage expenditures by 18% to 22% while reducing transit times between Gujarat's manufacturing clusters and northern consumption hubs.