The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has announced rapid progress in the construction of six new Gati Shakti cargo terminals in Assam, with the terminal at Baihata in Kamrup Rural set to become the first to be commissioned.

Developed by BR Transcon Ltd at an estimated cost of Rs 2.45 billion, the Baihata terminal has completed physical construction and is currently undergoing statutory clearances, NFR said.

In a press release, the railway zone stated that the facility is expected to become operational “very soon”, significantly enhancing freight movement and reducing logistics costs for industries across the Northeast. Once commissioned, it is projected to handle more than 25 freight rakes per month.

Key features of the Baihata Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal include: • Three new goods lines • An electronic in-motion weighbridge • Two goods platforms with a circulating area • High-mast lighting for 24×7 operations • A dedicated ramp for automobile handling

Introduced in 2022, the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) Policy aims to promote modern logistics infrastructure through industry participation.

Assam currently has two operational terminals — Moinarband near Silchar and Cinnamara near Jorhat. In February 2025, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced six additional terminals for the state.

According to NFR, the upcoming facilities include terminals at: • Habaipur (Lanka) – Lumding Division • Jogighopa • Baihata • Kendukona – Multi-Modal Logistics Terminal • Basugaon – HPCL Terminal • Chayagaon – Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (Rangiya Division)