Indian Railways Targets Rs 30,000 Crore Cargo Revenue Through Gati Shakti Terminals

Indian Railways has set an ambitious target of generating an additional Rs 30,000 crore in cargo revenue over the next three years through the expansion of its Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals program. The announcement signals a strong push toward strengthening freight infrastructure while unlocking higher logistics efficiency across the country.

According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the revised Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal policy is designed to increase freight loading from high volume sectors such as automobiles, cement, containers and salt. At present, 124 cargo terminals are operational under the framework. This number is expected to cross 500 within the next five years, reflecting the scale at which the national transporter plans to expand.

A significant part of the strategy involves upgrading underutilised goods sheds into fully developed cargo terminals. Legacy sidings created under earlier policies will also be allowed to migrate to the simplified GCT framework, enabling smoother integration and better asset utilisation.

To enhance operational safety, Indian Railways will now optionally undertake maintenance of private sector owned rail connectivity that links cargo terminals to the main railway network. This move is expected to reduce accidents and improve reliability while creating a structured maintenance ecosystem.

Beyond freight reforms, the Railways is also focusing on passenger service improvements. The minister reiterated that hygiene standards, particularly in general class coaches, will be upgraded to match reserved categories. End to end cleaning of trains, especially on long distance routes, forms part of a broader reform roadmap titled 52 reforms in 52 weeks planned for 2026.

The expanded cargo strategy is aligned with India’s long term logistics goals and is expected to strengthen supply chains while boosting non fare revenue streams for the Railways.