Kutch Salt Industry Gets Logistics Boost with India’s First Special Salt Container Train

October 23, 2026
Gujarat Kutch Railway

Kutch: Indian Railways has launched the country’s first specialised salt container train between the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal at Shivlakha in Kutch and Mithapur, introducing a transportation system designed to protect salt quality, increase loading capacity and reduce logistics costs for the salt industry.

The specially designed containers feature a stainless steel coating and a top-loading, side-unloading mechanism, allowing salt to be transported more efficiently while reducing its exposure to rain and moisture. The initiative is expected to benefit salt producers and traders in Kutch by improving cargo handling and reducing losses associated with conventional open wagons.

 

According to Mohammed Arshad, terminal head at Shivlakha Cargo Terminal, the new containers can carry 35.5 tonnes of salt each, compared with around 28–30 tonnes previously. He said the increased capacity would allow more cargo to be transported at the same transportation cost, resulting in estimated savings of around 11%.

Ahmedabad Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash said the containers have two openings at the top for loading salt and a side-opening mechanism for unloading. Once loaded, the containers can be lifted and placed on trailers for further transportation.

The initiative addresses a long-standing challenge for the salt industry, as exposure to moisture during transportation in open wagons can affect salt quality and lead to losses.

Tejabhai Kangad, president of the Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce, said the newly introduced stainless steel-coated containers could bring significant changes to the salt industry by preventing moisture-related damage and helping preserve salt quality during transit.

Kutch is a major salt-producing region, where Agariyas, or traditional salt workers, harvest salt in the Rann. The specialised container service is expected to improve the efficiency of transporting salt from production centres to destinations across the country, offering the industry a more secure and cost-effective logistics option. DeshGujarat

#Indian Railways #kutch

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