Secunderabad Division of the South Central Railway has decided to start a new Gati Shakti multi-modal cargo terminal (GCT) at Gadchendur station. This cargo terminal will be constructed entirely on railway land. The tender has been awarded for it at the cost of Rs 15.2 crore to Dalmia Cement Bharat.
This terminals will ease the handling of freight commodities for transportation by rail with enhanced facilities duly providing safe and secure transportation. Under this policy, apart from new sidings, the under-construction and existing private sidings or terminals can also migrate to convert as as the multi-modal cargo terminal.
The scope of the construction of GCT involves laying of additional line, concreting of surface, electronic in motion weigh bridge, provision of hamali rest room, covered shed, approach road, water supply arrangements, installation of computerised working i.e FOIS and TMS, electrification of additional line, highmast lighting etc. The period of contract is 35 years and the maintenance of GCT will be by Dalmia Cement Bharat for the said period. No terminal charges will be levied on cargo for which GCTO himself is the consignor or the consignee. Maintenance and operations of assets like track, signal and telecom, over-head equipment and staff costs will be borne by the Railways.
Arun Kumar Jain, SCR General Manager, stated that the cement companies located around Gadchendur and Chandrapur area will be most beneficial with this move as the transportation by rail will be safer, easier and the most comfortable option.
The policy has been introduced by Indian Railways with a view to boost investment from industry in development of additional terminals for handling rail cargos.
