JSW Infra to Build ₹50 Cr Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal at Arakkonam Under Gati Shakti Scheme

In a significant infrastructure development for Tamil Nadu, JSW Infrastructure Ltd has been entrusted with constructing and operating a multi-modal cargo terminal at Arakkonam by the Chennai division of the Southern Railway. The terminal will be constructed under the Union Government’s Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal Policy, 2022.

Spreading across almost one lakh square metres of railway land adjacent to the Arakkonam railway station, the project is likely to revolutionize the area as a major logistics hub. The facility will comprise two full-length rake lines, large wharf areas for efficient cargo handling, dedicated approach roads with highway connectivity, and all supporting service buildings and amenities.

JSW Infrastructure would invest ₹40–50 crore in the project, which would have a capacity to handle at least one million tonnes of cargo every year. The company shall also retain exclusive rights for 35 years to set up further infrastructure in the form of warehouses, mechanized unloading and loading facilities, specialized handling arrangements, and other value-added services.

Once commissioned, the terminal is likely to generate sizeable employment opportunities and spur economic activity in the districts of Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and the surrounding areas. The officials aver that the terminal is likely to decongest existing cargo channels considerably and enhance freight movement efficiency in the southern region.

The move is a part of Indian Railways’ overall push for bringing in private investment and enhancing logistics infrastructure under the Gati Shakti model, which aims to streamline multi-modal connectivity in the country.