Railways Cuts Cement Transport Rate To Rs0.90 Per Tonne-Km

20 Nov 2025 CW Team

Indian Railways has announced a major reform aimed at benefiting millions of people, particularly middle-class families building homes. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the cost of transporting cement has been sharply reduced under a new Rs0.90 per GTKM (Gross Tonne-Kilometre) uniform rate, a change expected to bring down cement prices across the country by lowering logistics expenses for manufacturers, traders and consumers.

GTKM refers to the cost of transporting one tonne of goods over one kilometre. Under the revised rate, rail freight charges will now be Rs0.90 per tonne per kilometre. For example, transporting 100 tonnes of cement over 200 kilometres will cost just Rs1,800 (0.90 × 100 × 200). This improved cost efficiency is expected to directly reduce market prices for cement.

Vaishnaw noted that cement represents a major share of construction costs for middle-class households. Reducing transport charges, he said, will make home construction more affordable and help more families realise the dream of owning a home. He described the tariff change as a “major reform”.

Indian Railways has also introduced specialised tank containers for bulk cement movement. These containers can be filled directly at factories and transported to consumption centres, reducing handling, speeding up deliveries and cutting logistics costs further.

A key element of the reform is the removal of the long-standing slab-based transport pricing structure. The uniform Rs0.90 per GTKM rate introduces greater transparency and predictability, enabling manufacturers to plan routes and logistics more efficiently. Vaishnaw called it a significant step towards modernising cement transportation in India while supporting both industry and consumers.

Real Estate

02 Apr 2026

Mahagun Group Secures Rs 2.25 Billion Funding

Mahagun Group has secured Rs 2.25 billion in funding from CSL Finance Limited, reinforcing its financial position and giving added momentum to project execution across its portfolio.The development comes after the Group recently completed the closure of Rs 6.5 billion debt for its Mahagun Medalleo project. It repaid Rs 3.1 billion in principal and around Rs 3.4 billion in interest, reflecting a disciplined financial approach and a consistent record of meeting obligations.The Group said its financial position is supported by strong internal accruals, healthy collections, and a robust base of so..

Danube Launches Greenz Master Community in Dubai

Danube Properties has recently launched Greenz by Danube, its first large-scale integrated community featuring premium villas and townhouses, marking its expansion into master-planned developments. Located in Dubai International Academic City near Dubai Silicon Oasis, the project sits within a high-growth corridor housing over 100,000 residents. The area is set to benefit from the upcoming District IO technology hub aligned with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The development will offer three- and four-bedroom townhouses, along with five-bedroom semi-detached ..

Jal Jeevan Mission Reports Tap Water For 158.2 mn Rural Households

Since August 2019 the Government of India, in partnership with states, has been implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to enable every rural household to have assured potable water through tap connections. The mission is overseen by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and seeks regular long term supply of prescribed quality water. At the launch only 3.23 Crore, equivalent to 32.3 million (mn), or 16.7 per cent, of rural households had tap connections. As reported by states and union territories on three March 2026 an additional 12.58 Crore, or 125.8 mn households, have been provided connections brin..