Overview
- Freight for bulk cement in containers will now be charged at a uniform Rs 0.90 per tonne per kilometre based on GTKM, replacing distance and weight slabs.
- Indian Railways will enable bulk cement terminals through public–private partnerships, offering land and repurposing low‑use goods sheds and loop lines under the Gati Shakti program.
- Special 20‑ft CONCOR tank containers with a 26‑tonne payload and 25–30 minute loading/unloading are promoted for end‑to‑end multimodal movement.
- Official figures show 87 mt of cement moved by rail in FY25 (80 mt bagged, 7 mt bulk) versus 450 mt national production, with a goal to lift rail’s bulk share toward 30% in the coming years.
- Railways and industry stakeholders say the reforms will cut costs, reduce packaging and spillage, speed turnarounds, and lower the carbon footprint, with terminal locations to be chosen with manufacturers.