Rail infra push: Vaishnaw opens India’s largest auto cargo terminal at Manesar, here are the top 10 takeaways
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday inaugurated India’s largest Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal for automobiles at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant, calling it a key step in boosting logistics efficiency for the sector.The new terminal, connected to Patli railway station via a 10-km dedicated rail link, is part of the 121.7-km Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor being developed by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC).Here are the top highlights from Ashwini Vaishnaw’s speech :
- Dedicated rail link & investment – The Manesar terminal connects to Patli station via a 10‑km line that is part of the 121.7‑km Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor. The link cost Rs 800 crore, with Rs 684 crore from HRIDC and the rest from Maruti Suzuki. Annual loading capacity is 4.5 lakh vehicles.
- Rail budget leap – “Before 2014, the Railways’ annual budget hovered around Rs 24,000–25,000 crore. Now, it has been increased to Rs 2.5 lakh crore,” Vaishnaw said, noting over 1,200 general coaches were added in the past year.
- MEMU and Namo Bharat expansion – More than 100 MEMU trains will be lengthened from 8–12 to 16–20 coaches; a new MEMU factory has been set up at Kazipet, Andhra Pradesh. Citing “strong public response” to two operating sets, the minister announced plans to build 50 new Namo Bharat trains.
- Record FY 24 performance – Indian Railways moved 720 crore passengers and 1,617 million tonnes of freight in 2023‑24, achieving the world’s second‑highest freight volume, he said.
- Tatkal overhaul from 1 July 2025 – Only Aadhaar‑authenticated, KYC‑verified users will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets in the first 30 minutes of the window “to ensure tickets are available to genuine passengers.”
- 24‑hour chart pilot – In Bikaner Division, reservation charts are now prepared 24 hours before departure (earlier 4 hours), a pilot that has “received highly positive feedback.”
- Amrit Bharat rollout – Three Amrit Bharat trains are running and “six more will be launched soon,” with production under way for 50 additional trains.
- Haryana focus – State allocation rose from Rs 300 crore (pre‑2014) to Rs 3,416 crore this year. Since 2014, 823 km of new lines have been laid and the network is 100 % electrified. Ongoing projects total Rs 11,800 crore, including redevelopment of 34 stations and construction of 540 ROBs/RUBs.
- Coach factory upgrade – The Railway Coach Factory, Sonipat is being modernised and “will soon be ready for inauguration,” Vaishnaw added.
