Ahmedabad, Sep 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s first salt container train was flagged off from Shivlakha in Kutch to Mithapur on Tuesday, as the Railways sought to create a dedicated and more efficient system for transporting salt from Gujarat’s major production centres to markets by rail.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the train through video conferencing as part of a programme in which five Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) in Gujarat were dedicated to the nation.
The halt of the Bhuj-Shalimar Express at Anjar station was also inaugurated, while Gopalpur railway station was opened in the presence of state ministers, MPs and MLAs.
Addressing the programme, Vaishnaw said the salt container train is an example of the Railways looking for new solutions to practical problems in freight transportation.
"The Railways had undergone a change in its approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with greater emphasis on innovation, new solutions and technology-based responses to regional requirements," he said.
Gujarat, particularly Kutch, is a major salt-producing region. The Railways said conventional transportation of salt in railway wagons posed difficulties in maintaining the required balance between the weight of the wagon and the commodity.
Salt’s tendency to absorb moisture also created quality and handling-related challenges during long-distance transportation. To address these issues, specially designed stainless-steel salt containers have been developed.
The containers allow loading from the top and unloading from the side, while tilting the container enables the salt to be discharged. The use of stainless steel has also been intended to achieve the required balance between the weight of the container and the salt.
The containerised system is expected to facilitate safer and more organised movement of salt while giving producers and associated businesses better access to markets in different parts of the country.
It is also intended to increase the share of rail-based freight movement and optimise logistics time and costs.
The five GCTs dedicated on Tuesday are located at Bhimasar, Devaliya, Chandisar, Shivlakha and Linch. They have been developed with private-sector participation and are expected to expand freight-handling and logistics capacity in Gujarat.
The AFGB GCT at Bhimasar, developed by Arya Freight Terminal Pvt Ltd, involves an investment of about Rs 75 crore, including a railway component of Rs 24.21 crore.
Spread over about 52 acres on the Gandhidham-Samakhiali section, it will handle containers and general cargo and is expected to handle about 60 outward and 60 inward rakes a month.
The project is expected to generate employment for around 1,000 people. The WCGD terminal at Devaliya, developed by Western Carriers (India) Ltd, involves an investment of about Rs 65 crore, including a railway component of Rs 16.28 crore.
Spread over around 41 acres on the Samakhiali-Dhrangadhra section, it will primarily handle containers and general cargo and is expected to generate about 1,000 jobs.
At Chandisar, the ATGC terminal developed by Emirates Terminals Pvt Ltd involves an investment of around Rs 75 crore, including Rs 14 crore as the railway component.
Located on about 23 acres along the Palanpur-Samakhiali section, it is primarily intended for container traffic, with an estimated capacity of 10 outward and 10 inward rakes a month.
It is expected to create around 400-500 employment opportunities.
The KEGS terminal at Shivlakha, being developed by KMT Engg. Pvt Ltd, has a proposed total investment of about Rs 200 crore, of which the railway project component is around Rs 12.97 crore.
Spread across about 150 acres on the Samakhiali-Palanpur section, it will handle container traffic and include facilities for railway wagon manufacturing and related logistics.
It is expected to handle two to three outward movements of newly manufactured railway wagons and around 10 container rakes each month, with an estimated employment potential of 2,000-2,500 people.
A GCT at Linch was also dedicated to the nation. The project is expected to increase freight-handling capacity and expand logistics infrastructure, providing industries and businesses with additional rail-based options for transporting goods.
"The Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal Policy had been launched in 2021, and more than 150 such terminals were currently operational across the country," he said.
The programme also highlighted ongoing railway expansion in Kutch. The four-laning of the Samakhiali-Bhachau section has been completed, while work on the third and fourth lines between Bhachau and Gandhidham is under way.
The Gandhidham-Adipur section has also been four-laned, while the Adipur-Bhuj section is being converted from single to double line. The Bhuj-Naliya gauge conversion project was dedicated to the nation in 2024.
The Naliya-Jakhau Port new railway line has also been approved. Another new line connecting Naliya with Desalpur through Vayor, Narayan Sarovar, Lakhpat, Hajipur and Luna has received approval.
At Anjar, the halt of Train No. 22829/22830 Bhuj-Shalimar Express was inaugurated. The new stop is expected to reduce the need for passengers from Anjar and surrounding areas to travel to other stations to board the long-distance service, benefiting traders, employees, students, tourists and other passengers.
Gopalpur railway station was also inaugurated during the programme. One of its operational benefits, according to the Railways, will be that trains operating towards and from Ahmedabad and Bhuj will not require engine reversal at Gandhidham, reducing operating time and facilitating smoother train movement.
The events were attended by Gujarat Minister of State, Trikambhai Chhanga, MPs Vinodbhai Chavda, Babubhai Desai, Chandubhai Shihora and Rajubhai Shukla and MLAs Prakashbhai Varmora, Virendrasinh Jadeja, Aniket Thakar, Maltiben Maheshwari, Divyaben Nathani, Sukhaji Thakor and Mukeshbhai Patel, among other public representatives.
The projects collectively add freight infrastructure in Gujarat while expanding passenger connectivity and railway capacity in Kutch.
Source: IANS
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