Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India’s largest automobile Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar (Haryana) facility, enhancing logistics efficiency and reducing transportation costs. The terminal has a loading capacity of 4.5 lakh vehicles per annum and supports green logistics initiatives.
The Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal
The Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant is a key infrastructure development that significantly enhances the logistics efficiency of automobile transportation. The Manesar facility is connected to Patli railway station through a 10 km dedicated rail link, which forms part of the 121.7 km Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor being developed by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC). The construction of this 10 km link involved an investment of ₹800 crore, with HRIDC contributing ₹684 crore and the remaining amount funded by Maruti Suzuki. The loading capacity of this Gati Shakti Cargo terminal is one of the highest in India i.e 4.5 lakh automobiles per annum.
Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted some important aspects
Addressing the gathering, the Minister highlighted the significant transformation Indian Railways has undergone over the past decade. “Before 2014, the Railways’ annual budget hovered around ₹24,000–25,000 crore, Now, it has been increased to ₹2.5 Lakh Crore. Basic passenger amenities like toilets were absent in many stations and coaches. In the last two and a half years, a focused campaign has been launched to increase the number of General Coaches. More than 1,200 General Coaches were added in just the past year,” he said.
Union Railway Minister Ahswini Vaishnaw highlighted several key initiatives and achievements in the railways sector. Some notable developments include :
– Upgraded Passenger Train Services: Over 100 MEMU trains will be upgraded to have 16-20 coaches, benefiting short-distance commuters. A new factory in Kazipet, Andhra Pradesh, will manufacture over 100 MEMU trains.
– Namo Bharat Trains: 50 new Namo Bharat trains will be produced due to strong public response, catering to growing passenger demand.
– Passenger and Freight Performance: Indian Railways transported 720 crore passengers and 1,617 million tonnes of freight in 2023-24, achieving the second-highest freight volume globally.
– Tatkal Ticket Booking Reform: From July 1, 2025, only Aadhaar-authenticated and KYC-verified users can book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes, ensuring tickets are available to genuine passengers.
– Passenger Reservation Charts: A pilot project in Bikaner Division prepares reservation charts 24 hours in advance, receiving positive feedback and expected to improve travel experience.
– Amrit Bharat Trains: Three trains are operational, with six more launching soon and 50 more under production.
– Haryana Railway Development: The state received a record allocation of ₹3,416 crore, with 823 km of new rail lines laid and 100% network electrified in the last 11 years. Projects worth ₹11,800 crore are underway, including redevelopment of 34 railway stations and construction of 540 road overbridges and underpasses.
– Railway Coach Factory Modernization: The Railway Coach Factory in Sonipat is undergoing modernization, expected to enhance coach production capacity soon.
