Maharashtra Plans Rail Freight Corridor Linking Major Ports to Reduce Logistics Costs

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday proposed creating a dedicated rail freight corridor to link major ports including Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and the upcoming Vadhvan Port with the Samruddhi Expressway. He said the infrastructure would significantly reduce logistics costs and integrate the state into global supply chains.

Speaking at the inauguration of electronics manufacturer Jabil's new facility in Pune, Fadnavis noted that JNPT handles around 60 per cent of India's container traffic, while the under-construction Vadhvan Port near Mumbai is expected to rank among the world's top 10 largest ports. The proposed corridor would traverse the Samruddhi Highway, where railway right-of-way spanning nearly 701 km has already been reserved.

Fadnavis discussed the proposal with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who attended the event. The corridor would connect ports with inland dry ports and industrial hubs across Maharashtra.