New DFCCIL MD prioritises development of Gati Shakti cargo terminals

Praveen Kumar, the newly appointed Managing Director, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL), has emphasised the importance of developing Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals as a key strategy for advancing the company’s business.

Kumar, who succeeded Ravindra Kumar Jain on July 31, highlighted the need to explore all avenues for increasing freight revenue. "Business development shall be our priority. We must engage in expanding our business potential, particularly by focusing on the extensive development of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals," Kumar stated after assuming his new role.

The Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal Policy, launched in December 2021, aims to establish 100 such terminals by the end of 2024-25. DFCCIL has been actively issuing tenders for the development of these terminals on both private land and alongside the western and eastern dedicated freight corridors.

The policy is designed to attract logistics service providers, real estate developers, third-party logistics players, warehousing investors, container train operators, and manufacturers. It features a streamlined application and approval process, land license fee relaxations, and the option for private and state-owned operators to set up common user facilities for rail cargo handling.

While the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor is now fully operational, the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor is nearing completion. With over 96% of the project commissioned, DFCCIL has transitioned into the operation and maintenance phase, managing the seamless exchange of more than 700 full-length goods trains daily.

Kumar also underscored the importance of enhancing Artificial Intelligence-based operation and maintenance systems to boost efficiency, noting that DFCCIL is now operating longer, heavier, and faster trains, aligning with world-class heavy haul railway standards.

(ET)