A new cargo terminal was inaugurated on Wednesday at Brundamal in Jharsuguda district, Odisha, to streamline coal transportation from the Talabira coal blocks and the Ib–Sardega region. The Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT), constructed on railway land under the East Coast Railway zone, is the first of its kind in the region.

Construction of the terminal began on 5 July 2023 and was completed within a year on 4 July 2024. The facility was declared operational for freight movement on 20 September 2024. The terminal has an annual handling capacity of 4.38 million tonnes, strengthening coal evacuation and logistics capabilities in one of India’s key coal-producing belts.

In a statement, the Railways said, “This terminal supports the PM Gati Shakti initiative for integrated logistics and industrial growth. It will enable faster coal evacuation and enhance freight activity within the Sambalpur division.”

Officials added that the new terminal will play a crucial role in driving Jharsuguda’s economic development, particularly by improving logistics efficiency across the coal-rich Ib Valley region.

A spokesperson from the Sambalpur Railway Division noted, “The Talabira mines earlier operated a terminal on private land. This is the first multimodal cargo terminal built entirely on railway land and infrastructure. Around 80 per cent of total traffic will comprise coal from the Talabira blocks, while the remaining 20 per cent will come from other coalfields in the Ib Valley.”

The GCT is expected to significantly reduce transportation time, improve cost efficiency, and support India’s broader efforts under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to create an integrated, multi-modal logistics network connecting rail, road, and port infrastructure.