The newly commissioned New Sanjali private cargo terminal along the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) near Ahmedabad, spans approximately 120 acres and is the first such terminal built on privately owned land under the Gati Shakti initiative. Developed by the Sawariya Shakti Group under Schedule‑1 of the Gati Shakti Multi‑Modal Cargo Terminal policy, it represents a landmark example of public-private partnership in Indian logistics.
Featuring two dedicated rail lines for containers and steel cargo, an electrified bulk cargo and Truck-on-Train (ToT) line, plus two receipt and dispatch lines integrated with both DFCCIL and Indian Railways, the terminal enables faster and more efficient movement of goods. This is complemented by direct connectivity to NH‑48 and NE‑4, and proximity-just 6 km-to a proposed Multi‑Modal Logistics Park (MMLP), optimising multi-modal transport flows.
Strategically located to serve the Panoli GIDC, Ankleshwar, Jhagadia industrial zones, and key ports such as Dahej, Hazira, and JNPT, the terminal dramatically improves logistics linkages for steel producers and exporters in western India. A 28‑acre Inland Container Depot (ICD) and 650,000 sq ft of warehousing-including a 54,000 sq ft bonded warehouse, PESO-approved storage, and cold-chain facilities-further augment its capacity to handle bulky and sensitive cargo.
Praveen Kumar, MD of DFCCIL, described the New Sanjali terminal as “a concrete move towards modal shift from road to rail, enabling a more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective logistics network,” highlighting both its economic and environmental benefits.
By diverting heavy steel shipments from road to rail, the terminal significantly reduces logistics costs, lowers carbon emissions, and shortens turnaround times. This efficiency is crucial for steel manufacturers, who rely on timely access to raw materials like coal and ore, and the ability to swiftly distribute finished products to domestic markets and ports.In sum, the New Sanjali terminal establishes a cutting-edge logistics node that supports India’s industrial growth, particularly in steel, by integrating rail, road, and port networks into a streamlined multimodal hub.
