By Arun Kumar Das
New Delhi, Oct 15 (BVI): Sonik has become the country’s first integrated logistics hub offering door-to-door freight and parcel services.
Under the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals initiative, 115 terminals have been developed to provide multimodal services, delivering substantial benefits to ustomers, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while virtually inaugurating the Sonik Integrated Logistics Hub and flagging off two new Door-to-Door Freight and Parcel Services here.
The Railway Minister said door-to-door services are essential for the country, as they will enhance efficiency and significantly reduce logistics costs.
He highlighted that industries can now send a specific number of containers without the need to fill an entire rake to their destination.
Vaishnaw added that the logistical gap between factories and the loading/unloading points of trains will now be bridged by Indian Railways through comprehensive door-to-door services.
He further said that goods sheds or logistics terminals will be equipped with facilities for stuffing and destuffing containers, allowing customers to fully benefit from the new service model.
Starting with the Mumbai–Kolkata corridor, more services will soon be operational to ensure the smooth movement of goods and expand connectivity to more cities.
The Minister added that another experiment has also proven successful—transporting equipment such as tractors at affordable rates to benefit farmers. Just as car cargo is moved efficiently, similar transportation facilities will now be extended for tractors and heavy construction equipment(JCB).
Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar emphasized that the door-to-door delivery initiative represents a paradigm shift in rail-based logistics—where a consignee’s consignment is picked up directly from the warehouse or factory and delivered to the final destination by Indian Railways.
Aligned with the logistics vision of Viksit Bharat, this initiative signifies the beginning of Indian Railways’ transformation from being a transporter of goods to becoming a complete logistics service provider for freight customers.
Bhartiya Rail (Indian Railways) is the world’s second largest freight carrier, transporting 1.6 billion tonnes of goods annually.
Situated approximately 50 km from Lucknow and 20 km from Kanpur, Railway Goods Sheds as Integrated Logistics Hub (Sonik, Lucknow Division) effectively bridging the capital city and a major industrial center.
It will cater to the burgeoning logistics needs of the Kanpur and Lucknow regions, offering end-to-end solutions including Door-to-Door logistics to customers, distribution hubs for cargo, and inventory management services.
Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR) will manage all terminal operations and provide crucial first and Last mile connectivity, ensuring seamless cargo movement.
The terminal is poised to handle a diverse range of commodities, including Fertilizer, Food-grains, Cement, and Tractors.
The facility boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure, including warehousing, Door-to-Door services, and essential amenities for both customers and laborers.
Delhi to Kanpur assured transit container train service guarantees transit times, providing a reliable alternative to road transport. The route connects Delhi – Agra – Kanpur – Kolkata in 120 hours.
The bi-weekly premier service includes loading and unloading (Lift on/Lift Off) operations at intermediary terminals, including Tughlakabad (Delhi), Agra, Kanpur (ICDG Siding), and Kolkata (ICDG Siding), with a standardized dwell time of 6 hours at each location.
Customers can choose from multiple booking options to suit their supply chain needs: Door-to-Door, Door-to-Terminal, Terminal-to-Door, and Terminal-to-Terminal.
Compared to road transport, the Rail Parcel service results in a 7.5 per cent reduction in logistics costs. Additionally, rail transit is significantly faster, offering nearly a 30 per cent saving in transit time.(BVI)
