Railways Must Tap Lightweight Freight for Growth: FICCI-PwC

22 Jul 2025 CW Team

Consumer durables, FMCG products, electronics, e-commerce goods, automobiles, paper products, and pharmaceuticals continue to be transported primarily by road, and Indian Railways (IR) must recalibrate its operations and pricing strategies to actively target these fast-growing freight categories, according to a report by FICCI and PwC.

The report, "Unlocking Growth: Railway Freight Portfolio Diversification in India", points out that coal, cement, and iron and steel account for nearly 70 per cent of the total freight volume moved by rail, indicating a heavy reliance on a limited set of commodities.

To expand its freight portfolio, IR must either grow its share within these traditional categories or diversify into new, especially lightweight, segments. The report emphasised that this shift is essential if IR is to meet its ambitious targets of handling 3,000 million tonnes (MT) of freight annually by 2027 and achieving a 45 per cent rail modal share by 2030.

Lightweight and non-traditional freight such as two- and four-wheeler automobiles, packaged consumer goods, paper, and pharmaceuticals are expected to grow at nearly twice the rate of bulk commodities and are seen as the future of logistics. Yet, these continue to rely on road transport due to perceived limitations in rail services.

To make rail a viable option for such goods, the report recommends improvements in operational efficiency, reliability, availability of suitable wagons, competitive pricing, customer-centric services, and a tech-enabled ecosystem.

It acknowledged that substantial investment has been made over the past decade to expand rail infrastructure and capacity. However, to fully capitalise on this, the report calls for targeted efforts to facilitate the movement of lightweight goods and broaden IR’s freight mix beyond bulk commodities.

Infrastructure Urban

14 Jan 2026

PM Modi Engages Youth at Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the concluding session of the second edition of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking the culmination of the four-day event on National Youth Day. The programme coincided with the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and witnessed enthusiastic participation from young leaders across the country.Interacting with the youth, the Prime Minister said that many participants were not yet born when he first took oath as Chief Minister, and were still children when he assumed office as Prime Minister in 2014..

India’s Skilling System Shifts to Unified, Outcome-Led Framework

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary chaired the first General Body Meeting of the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi. Addressing the meeting, the Minister said that India’s skilling ecosystem is undergoing a paradigm shift from fragmented systems to a unified, outcome-oriented framework aligned with education, industry and future technologies, with NCVET playing a central role in making the transition credible, transparent and learn..

25th All India Major Port Cultural Meet Concludes at Paradip

The 25th All India Major Port Cultural Meet 2025–26 concluded on a grand note on January 11 at Jayadev Sadan, Paradip Port, after four days of vibrant cultural performances and artistic celebrations. The event was organised by the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) in association with the Major Ports Sports Control Board and brought together cultural talent from major ports across the country.The valedictory ceremony was graced by P L Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Authority, as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, Shri Haranadh congratulated all participating artistes for their captivatin..