First private sector Cargo Terminal started in Rewari

REWARI: Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCC) has started operations from Rewari Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT). The GCT is built on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, fully invested by private players, and has zero revenue sharing from the IndianRailways.

The Rs 8 crore GCT in Haryana has been built exclusively for container traffic, along Line 10 of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) to New Rewari station. It will be operated by Pristine Mega LogisticsPark.ItwaswonbyPristine in a race with state-owned Container Corporation of India (Concor) and shipping giant DP World, officials said.

“This is a radical change from the current working of Indian Railways, where Railways shared a part of the terminalaccesschargewiththeGCD operator,”therailwaysfirmsaid.This step has ensured that the terminal can be developed without investment fromtheRailwaysorDFCCC.

The terminal has been commissionedwithin75daysfromthe awardofthecontract.

Senior officials present during the inauguration said that the interest of the private sector is significant considering that all the three companiesinvolvedinthebiddingbid forzerorevenueshare.

Normally, a certain portion of the Terminal Access Charge (TAC) is shared by the Railways with the operator. For example, in Andhra Pradesh, GCT was allotted to Grasim Industries in January, with the Railways getting 15 per cent of the TAC.

A senior DFCC official said, “The bid war involving zero revenue share in this tender led to a reconsideration within the Railway Board. This terminal will be a torchbearer for formulatingnewguidelines.

According to a senior Pristine official, the terminal offers a unique opportunity for the Ludhian-based freight aggregator to generate revenue.