India's first semi-high speed freight train Gati Shakti likely to run by year-end

Tags: National

Indian Railways has set a target of launching the country's first semi-high speed freight  train by December 2022.

  • The 16-coach 'Gati Shakti' train based on the Vande Bharat platform will be able to run at a speed of 160 kmph.

  • The manufacture of the train will be done by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

  • In order to implement this initiative in a focused manner, Railways has created a separate Directorate in Railway Board with its branches in Khurda, Bilaspur, Delhi and Bengaluru divisions.

  • Each train will also have refrigerated wagons at the rear and front for carrying perishable goods like milk products, fish, fruits and vegetables.

  • Each coach will have two wide doors for loading and unloading of containers.

  • Indian Railways is aiming to increase its share in freight traffic from the current 27 per cent to 45 per cent by 2030 through better infrastructure and business development plans.

  • Indian Railways has identified 74 new 'Gati-Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT)' across the country, of which 20 are in South Indian states.

  • India’s e-commerce market

  • As per the Indian Brand Equity Foundation, with a turnover of USD 50 billion in 2020, India has become the eighth largest market for e-commerce.

  • India's e-commerce market is expected to reach US$ 111 billion by 2024 and US$ 200 billion by 2026.

  • It is expected to reach USD 350 billion by 2030.

  • The 'Gati-Shakti Multi Modal Cargo Terminal' policy was launched in 2021 to promote investment in the development of additional terminals for handling rail cargo.

  • About PM Gati Shakti initiative

  • It is a transformative approach to economic growth and sustainable development.

  • It was launched on 13 October 2021 to provide multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones.

  • PM GatiShakti National Master Plan was implemented on 21st October 2021.

  • The approach of PM Gati Shakti is driven by 7 engines-

  1. Railways

  2. Roads

  3. Ports

  4. Waterways

  5. Airports

  6. Mass Transport

  7. Logistics Infrastructure

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