Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, virtually inaugurated the Sonik Integrated Logistics Hub and launched two new door-to-door freight and parcel services on Wednesday.

The Minister said the initiative marks a major step in reducing logistics costs and improving efficiency in India’s transport sector. He explained that industries will now be able to send smaller consignments without filling an entire rake, bridging the gap between factories and rail loading or unloading points.

Under the new model, goods sheds and logistics terminals will be equipped with facilities for container stuffing and de-stuffing, making the Indian Railways a complete logistics service provider. Vaishnaw added that the Sonik terminal has become the first integrated logistics hub offering this service, with 115 terminals developed under the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals initiative to provide multimodal logistics support.

The initiative begins on the Mumbai–Kolkata corridor, with more routes to follow. The Minister also highlighted successful trials of tractor and heavy equipment transport, which will benefit farmers and construction sectors by offering affordable, rail-based delivery options.

Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, said the door-to-door delivery service marks a paradigm shift in freight logistics — where consignments are picked up from warehouses or factories and delivered directly to their destinations. He described it as part of the Viksit Bharat logistics vision, positioning the Railways as a comprehensive logistics partner rather than just a goods carrier.

Indian Railways, the world’s second-largest freight carrier, currently transports 1.6 billion tonnes of cargo annually.

Key Logistics Developments

1. Sonik Integrated Logistics Hub (Lucknow Division) Located 50 km from Lucknow and 20 km from Kanpur, the hub caters to growing logistics demand in both regions. Managed by Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), it offers end-to-end logistics, warehousing, inventory management, and first and last-mile connectivity. The terminal handles fertilisers, food grains, cement, and tractors, supported by state-of-the-art facilities.

2. Assured Transit Container Train Service (Delhi–Kolkata) A premium service guaranteeing a 120-hour transit time, operating bi-weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The route covers Delhi–Agra–Kanpur–Kolkata, with six-hour dwell times at each terminal. Flexible booking options include door-to-door, terminal-to-door, and terminal-to-terminal services, integrated through the CONCOR e-Logistics app.

3. Door-to-Door Parcel Service (Mumbai–Kolkata) Operating between Bhiwandi Road (Mumbai) and Sankrail (Kolkata), this service covers 1,930 km with an average transit time of 48–60 hours. It caters to clients such as Castrol India, VIP Industries, Godrej & Boyce, and Nestlé, supported by 5,400 CFT cargo storage at both hubs. Compared to road transport, it achieves a 7.5 per cent cost reduction and nearly 30 per cent faster transit times.

The Minister said these services represent a transformative shift in India’s freight landscape, combining digital integration, multimodal connectivity, and reduced costs to enhance the nation’s logistics competitiveness.