Of the 6,000 projects that saw inauguration, foundation stone laying and dedication to the nation by Prime Minister Nardenra Modi today, three virtually inaugurated Gati Shakti cargo terminals in West Bengal, under the Eastern Railway are anticipated to bring economic boost and accelerate the freight rail traffic of the zonal railway.

One of the three Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCT) inaugurated by the PM, is at Andal Junction in Asansol division of the ER. The GCT here offers a cargo of 1.05 million tonnes of coal, 0.75 million tonnes of cement along with one more commodity per annum. The second GCT inaugurated today is the one at Barabani also in Asansol division. As informed by the senior officials of the ER, the GCT unit here is that of the GVC Industries Private Limited that offers the zonal railway a traffic of 0.20 MT per annum of inward sugar, outward cement of 0.38 million tonnes per annum along with coal. The third one is at Janai Road in Howrah division, offering the Eastern Railway 1.77 MT of sugar, outward cement of 0.47 MT annually.

As informed by the senior officials of the railways, the Eastern Railway is to have a total 22 Gati Shakti terminals. Of the total 19 terminals, 13 are to be developed in West Bengal. “The remaining 19 terminals are in different stages of conceptualization. They are conceived by private parties with the help of railways. Private parties owning the terminals would also operate it. The three terminals of the ER are the first to be operational. Others might take a year while some might be ready in six months,” informed an official.

According to the general manager of the ER, Milind K Deouskar, the policy for the Gati Shati Cargo Terminals has been designed strategically. “The main importance is that the model is designed and based in a manner that it becomes a win-win situation for both the private parties and the railways. The railways cannot invest such huge amounts. Through the system, the railways attract huge investments and in turn it gets the benefit of inward and outward rail traffic,” elaborated Mr Deouskar.

Inset on OSOP

Putting efforts to encourage the local artisans and to promote indigenous products sale and purchase through the ‘One Station One Product’ stalls at Railway stations, governor C V Ananda Bose announced monetary awards of Rs. 10,000 each to three stall owners of the Eastern Railway.

The awards for three categories were given during the countrywide mega event in which the PM laid the foundation stone/inaugurated/dedicated Railway projects worth more than rupees 85 thousand crores today. Mr Bose announced the awards during the inauguration of an OSOP stall at Kolkata station this morning.

During the programme, the ‘Best Artisan Award’ was given to Maya Pal, an OSOP stalls owner in Durgapur of Asansol division. The second award for the ‘Best Product’ was announced for Samajik Pahal Foundation with an OSOP stall at Adisaptagram in Howrah division. The third monetary award was given for the ‘Best OSOP Stalls’ to Loknath traders at Krishnanagar station in Sealdah division.