Freight revenue from Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) has surged four times between 2022–23 and 2024–25, reaching Rs 12,608 crore, as per an official statement. The Railways has sanctioned 306 GCTs with a total capacity of 192 million tonnes per year, of which 118 are operational. These terminals have attracted about Rs 8,600 crore in private investments under the GCT Policy.
Since 2014, a substantial 2,672 million tonnes of freight has transitioned from roads to railways, largely due to GCTs, which have been instrumental in reducing India’s logistics costs to 7.97% of GDP. Furthermore, the expansion of rail freight operations has led to savings of 143.3 million tonnes of CO2, aiding the country’s environmental efforts.
The decrease in logistics expenses signifies the success of continuous reforms and coordinated planning, positioning India closer to global standards. The statement highlights how synchronized infrastructure growth and digital integration are reshaping the logistics sector, making it more efficient, competitive, and prepared for the future.
At the core of this transformation lies the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which harmonizes railways, highways, ports, and airports under a unified framework. By enabling seamless multimodal connectivity, the plan aims to boost industrial competitiveness, support initiatives like Ease of Doing Business and Make in India, and ensure balanced regional progress. GCTs play a pivotal role in this vision, driving advanced logistics solutions that will further elevate India’s stature as a global trade hub.
Railway cargo terminals, like Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals, are vital facilities for loading, unloading, and transferring goods between trains and various transport modes. They serve as crucial nodes in the logistics chain, facilitating efficient movement of containers and bulk goods. The establishment of integrated hubs like GCTs is essential to streamline cargo handling, reduce delays, costs, and congestion caused by the fragmented freight movement across road, rail, and ports.
GCTs, developed under the Ministry of Railways’ GCT Policy 2021, are modern cargo terminals that integrate rail with other transportation modes. These terminals operate with ‘engine-on-load’ (EOL) systems to minimize delays and optimize railway infrastructure usage. Equipped with modern cargo-handling amenities such as mechanized loading systems and silos, GCTs significantly cut down handling time. The overarching goal is to enhance Indian Railways’ share in total freight movement by offering faster, more efficient, and reliable freight services. This shift to rail transport, which is more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly compared to road transport, aids in reducing logistics expenses and meeting sustainability targets.
