Gateway Rail to invest Rs 25 cr to up cargo handling capacity

CHANDIGARH: Container train operator Gateway Rail Freight Limited will infuse Rs 25 crore to boost its container handling capacities, even as the logistic provider aims to clock total business volume of Rs 1,500 crore in 2010-11.

"We will be investing Rs 25 crore in adding two more rail sidings at Inland Container Depot located at Sahnewal in Ludhiana...the new rail sidings will reduce our turnaround time (for container handling) from 12-14 hours at present to 5 to 6 hours," the company's senior general manager, RK Bhasin said on Thursday.

Gateway Rail has also sought approval of Railway Board for connecting its upcoming rail sidings with main rail link, he said.

At present, it has two rail sidings for loading and unloading of containers and handles 20,000 Twenty Foot Equivalent (TEU) per month at Ludhiana ICD.

Gateway Rail Freight Limited set up Punjab's first rail linked Logistics Park cum ICD in private sector at Sahnewal in Ludhiana with in investment of Rs 150 crore last year.

Prior to this, only state-owned Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) had ICD at Ludhiana, with rail linked facility.

With just over a year of operations, the company claims to have captured 40 per cent market share in cargo handling business in Punjab.