Freight movement set to gain momentum in J&K

Jammu, Apr 13: Jammu Railway Division and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) Monday signed a significant commercial agreement for a ‘Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal’ (GCT) railway siding located at Bajalta, Jammu.

The agreement was signed by Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), on behalf of the Jammu Railway Division and Chandan Chauhan, Territory Manager (Retail) – Jammu, on behalf of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.

The terminal is scheduled to become operational by the end of the current month.

“This agreement marks a major step towards enhancing logistics and transportation efficiency for the Jammu Common User Facility (CUF). The new siding at Bajalta will ensure the smooth movement of petroleum products, thereby further strengthening the region’s energy supply chain. Under the ‘Gati Shakti’ initiative, this terminal stands as a testament to the improved coordination between the Railways and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in facilitating trade and infrastructure development,” said Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector, Jammu Railway Division.

He said that the development of the Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal (GCT) at Bajalta, Jammu Division, was a historic step for the energy security and infrastructure of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh regions.

Speaking about the ambit of the ‘Gati Shakti’ initiative and its key benefits, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager UchitSinghal stated, “The commissioning of this terminal will significantly alleviate the pressure of tank lorries on the roads of Jammu city, thereby facilitating smoother local traffic flow. Transporting goods via rail rather than road will lead to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions.”

“Furthermore, this project is expected to generate both direct and indirect employment opportunities for the local populace, thereby bolstering the regional economy. Rail transport proves to be considerably more cost-effective than road transport, which will result in reduced logistics costs and enhanced efficiency for industries. Moreover, transporting petroleum products through dedicated tank wagons and a modern terminal will lead to significant improvements in health, safety, and environmental standards,” Singhal said.

To elaborate on the long-term implications and key benefits of this agreement, this terminal will ensure an uninterrupted, year-round supply of petroleum products to strategically vital regions such as Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Regarding the key features of this terminal, it has been pointed out that with a total storage capacity of 109,225 KL, the facility is capable of handling two rakes per day, enabling a monthly supply of approximately 162,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products.

Handling operations will be conducted using modern and secure tank wagons.

“Equipped with state-of-the-art automation and robust rail-road connectivity, this project is poised to serve as the logistical backbone of the region for decades to come,” Singhal said.