+
India’s Largest Auto Cargo Terminal Opens at Manesar
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

India’s Largest Auto Cargo Terminal Opens at Manesar

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday inaugurated India’s largest Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal for automobiles at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd’s Manesar facility in Haryana. The new terminal is expected to significantly improve rail-based logistics efficiency for the automotive sector.

The facility connects to Patli railway station via a 10-kilometre dedicated rail line, forming part of the 121.7-kilometre Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor being developed by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC). The link was built at a cost of Rs 8 billion, with HRIDC contributing Rs 6.84 billion and Maruti Suzuki funding the remainder.

With a loading capacity of 450,000 vehicles annually, the Manesar terminal boasts one of the highest capacities among automobile cargo terminals in India. The project is aligned with the government’s PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which seeks to integrate and modernise the country’s logistics and infrastructure systems.

Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw highlighted broader initiatives by Indian Railways to improve both freight and passenger services. He announced the expansion of Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains, with over 100 sets to be upgraded from 8–12 coaches to 16–20 coaches to serve short-distance commuters more effectively. A new factory in Kazipet, Andhra Pradesh, will support MEMU train production.

Vaishnaw also shared updates on the Namo Bharat train initiative, with 50 new trains planned to meet increasing passenger demand. For 2023–24, Indian Railways transported around 7.2 billion passengers and moved 1.617 billion tonnes of freight, achieving the world’s second-highest freight volume.

In terms of ticketing reforms, from 1 July 2025, only Aadhaar-authenticated and KYC-verified users will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the initial 30-minute window. A pilot project in the Bikaner Division now allows reservation charts to be prepared 24 hours ahead of train departures, instead of the usual four hours.

The minister also mentioned the rollout of Amrit Bharat trains, with three currently operational and six more launching soon. Production for an additional 50 trains is underway. Meanwhile, the Railway Coach Factory in Sonipat is being modernised and will soon be inaugurated to increase production capacity.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday inaugurated India’s largest Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal for automobiles at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd’s Manesar facility in Haryana. The new terminal is expected to significantly improve rail-based logistics efficiency for the automotive sector.The facility connects to Patli railway station via a 10-kilometre dedicated rail line, forming part of the 121.7-kilometre Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor being developed by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC). The link was built at a cost of Rs 8 billion, with HRIDC contributing Rs 6.84 billion and Maruti Suzuki funding the remainder.With a loading capacity of 450,000 vehicles annually, the Manesar terminal boasts one of the highest capacities among automobile cargo terminals in India. The project is aligned with the government’s PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which seeks to integrate and modernise the country’s logistics and infrastructure systems.Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw highlighted broader initiatives by Indian Railways to improve both freight and passenger services. He announced the expansion of Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains, with over 100 sets to be upgraded from 8–12 coaches to 16–20 coaches to serve short-distance commuters more effectively. A new factory in Kazipet, Andhra Pradesh, will support MEMU train production.Vaishnaw also shared updates on the Namo Bharat train initiative, with 50 new trains planned to meet increasing passenger demand. For 2023–24, Indian Railways transported around 7.2 billion passengers and moved 1.617 billion tonnes of freight, achieving the world’s second-highest freight volume.In terms of ticketing reforms, from 1 July 2025, only Aadhaar-authenticated and KYC-verified users will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the initial 30-minute window. A pilot project in the Bikaner Division now allows reservation charts to be prepared 24 hours ahead of train departures, instead of the usual four hours.The minister also mentioned the rollout of Amrit Bharat trains, with three currently operational and six more launching soon. Production for an additional 50 trains is underway. Meanwhile, the Railway Coach Factory in Sonipat is being modernised and will soon be inaugurated to increase production capacity.

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Reliable Energy Storage Vital for 24/7 Renewable Power: TKIL

Reliable, scalable, and efficient energy storage systems are essential to ensuring uninterrupted renewable energy supply, said engineering firm TKIL Industries at the India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025.India aims to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy capacity within the next five years.Speaking at IESW, organised by the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), Vivek Bhatia, Managing Director and CEO of TKIL Industries, emphasised that the country’s energy sector is experiencing a major transformation. This shift is being driven by innovations in storage technology, aimed at improving grid re..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

IIT Madras, Hyundai Launch £17m Hydrogen Research Centre

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) have announced the establishment of the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre, a cutting-edge hydrogen research facility set to begin operations by 2026.The Rs 180 crore (approx. £17 million or USD 21.5 million) project will be located at IIT Madras' Discovery Campus in Thaiyur, near Chennai. Of the total, Rs 100 crore (approx. £9.4 million) has been committed by HMIL and its philanthropic arm, Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), with support from the Government of Tamil Nadu and its investment promotion ag..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

India’s Hydrogen Demand to Hit 8.8 MTPA by 2032: IESA Report

India’s hydrogen demand is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3 per cent, reaching 8.8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2032, according to a report released by the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA).Unveiled on the first day of the India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025, the report points out a gap between ambitious project announcements and actual progress. While green hydrogen (GH₂) projects totalling 9.2 MTPA have been announced, only a limited number have reached Final Investment Decision (FID) or secured long-term domestic or international offtake agreemen..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?