Contract awarded to develop Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal in Morbi's Khakhrechi

The Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway has awarded a 35-year contract to Emirates Logistics India Private Limited for the development of a Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) at Khakhrechi in the Morbi district of Gujarat.

Under this project, modern freight loading and unloading facilities will be developed through private investment on 80,413 square metres of railway land. The primary objective of this initiative is to strengthen regional freight infrastructure, improve logistics efficiency, and increase revenue through the commercial utilisation of railway assets.

As per the agreement, Indian Railways expects to receive an annual land licence fee of more than ₹15 lakh from this terminal. Additionally, further revenue will be generated through a revenue-sharing mechanism. This model will enable the railways to develop modern freight-handling infrastructure without any direct capital investment.

Regional industries and businesses will gain better facilities for transporting goods via rail through this terminal. Modern cargo-handling facilities will simplify the loading and unloading process, thereby increasing the usage of rail-based transport.

According to Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Ved Prakash, the development of the Khakhrechi Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal will expand freight transport facilities in the area and provide enhanced infrastructure for the movement of goods for industries and commercial organisations.

This project is aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which aims to strengthen multimodal connectivity and establish an integrated logistics network across the country. This will reduce dependence on road transport and promote an environmentally friendly logistics system.

According to a report by DeshGujarat, eight Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals are currently operational in the Ahmedabad Division, handling goods such as containers, salt, bentonite, cement, fertiliser, sugar, and pulses. Between April and October 2026, more than 1,700 rakes consisting of over 65,000 wagons were loaded from these terminals. In this seven-month period, approximately 2.3 million tonnes of goods were transported, generating revenue of more than ₹330 crore for Indian Railways.