+
Improving Intermodal Connectivity for Freight Movement
PORTS & SHIPPING

Improving Intermodal Connectivity for Freight Movement

The current share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) in India’s total freight traffic stands at around 2 per cent, while railways and road transport account for approximately 18 per cent and 71 per cent respectively, as per the 2021 NITI Aayog report, Fast Tracking Freight in India. In an effort to reduce logistics costs and enhance intermodal connectivity, the government has undertaken several initiatives aimed at improving coordination between waterways, railways, and road networks.

To boost the use of IWT, Multi Modal Terminals (MMTs) have been integrated at key locations such as Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, along with an intermodal terminal at Kalughat. These terminals on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) are also connected to the Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Port in Kolkata, creating a seamless flow of goods across transport modes.

Further, a Freight Village has been developed at Varanasi, serving as a cargo aggregation hub, while an Integrated Cluster-cum-Logistics Park has been established at Sahibganj to enhance cargo handling and storage capacities along NW-1.

Various ministries, including Petroleum and Natural Gas, Co-operation, Fertiliser, Food & Public Distribution, Heavy Industries, Steel, and Coal, have been advised to encourage Public Sector Undertakings under their purview to shift a portion of their cargo movement to the IWT mode. This strategic shift aims to promote a more sustainable and cost-effective freight transportation system.

The construction of the Inter-Modal Terminal (IMT) at Kalughat has been completed. This terminal is designed to cater to cargo traffic from north Bihar and Nepal, with traffic studies indicating a significant role for IMT Kalughat in increasing freight movement, particularly in the Saran region of Bihar.

The current share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) in India’s total freight traffic stands at around 2 per cent, while railways and road transport account for approximately 18 per cent and 71 per cent respectively, as per the 2021 NITI Aayog report, Fast Tracking Freight in India. In an effort to reduce logistics costs and enhance intermodal connectivity, the government has undertaken several initiatives aimed at improving coordination between waterways, railways, and road networks. To boost the use of IWT, Multi Modal Terminals (MMTs) have been integrated at key locations such as Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, along with an intermodal terminal at Kalughat. These terminals on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) are also connected to the Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Port in Kolkata, creating a seamless flow of goods across transport modes. Further, a Freight Village has been developed at Varanasi, serving as a cargo aggregation hub, while an Integrated Cluster-cum-Logistics Park has been established at Sahibganj to enhance cargo handling and storage capacities along NW-1. Various ministries, including Petroleum and Natural Gas, Co-operation, Fertiliser, Food & Public Distribution, Heavy Industries, Steel, and Coal, have been advised to encourage Public Sector Undertakings under their purview to shift a portion of their cargo movement to the IWT mode. This strategic shift aims to promote a more sustainable and cost-effective freight transportation system. The construction of the Inter-Modal Terminal (IMT) at Kalughat has been completed. This terminal is designed to cater to cargo traffic from north Bihar and Nepal, with traffic studies indicating a significant role for IMT Kalughat in increasing freight movement, particularly in the Saran region of Bihar.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train’s Surat-Vapi Section Set for 2027

The first section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor, linking Surat and Vapi, is targeted to begin services in 2027. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2026, while Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has indicated that an inauguration could take place around the middle of 2027. The National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) said the train being manufactured in India is expected to reach the tracks around April or May 2027. The train will undergo extensive testing before the section is opened for passenger services. The project began construction in 2021 and includ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Indian Railways Approves Four Projects Worth Rs. 7.36 bn Across Four States

Indian Railways has approved four projects with a combined value of Rs. 7.36 bn across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The programme covers train protection, signalling, electric traction supply and a road overbridge, with each project assigned to a different railway zone. In Uttar Pradesh, Rs. 2.52 bn has been approved to extend the Kavach 4.0 automatic train protection system across 607.7 km in the Lucknow Division of North Eastern Railway. The system monitors train movements and can apply the brakes if a driver fails to observe a signal or exceeds a safe speed. The w..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Chandru Raheja Sells 1.49% Stake in Mindspace REIT for Rs. 5 bn

Billionaire Chandru Lachmandas Raheja has sold a 1.49 per cent holding in Mindspace Business Parks REIT for Rs. 5 bn through a bulk deal on the BSE. The transaction involved 9.9 mn units and was executed at an average price of Rs. 505 per unit, according to exchange data. Following the sale, units of Mindspace Business Parks REIT were trading 0.18 per cent lower at Rs. 504.05 on Tuesday. Exchange data did not identify the buyers involved in the transaction. Raheja is the chairman of real estate company K Raheja Corp. The sale involved 99,00,990 units, representing 1.49 per cent of the Mumbai-b..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code