Gurgaon-Mundra double-stack train to boost transportation

With an aim of giving a boost to the transportation of cars, steel and consumer goods, railways have decided to run double-stack container trains between Gurgaon and Mundra Port in Gujarat.

The service will be made operational this month.

"All necessary preparations including approval from Research Designs and Standards Organisation and safety clearance to run the double-stack container train in this route are complete now," said a senior Railway Ministry official.

The 19 feet high double-stack train will ensure fast clearance of containers from the port thereby increasing the traffic handling capacity of the port.

"The double-stack container service will give boost to the transportation of cars, steel, medicines and consumer goods for export and import in the 1,198 km long Gurgaon-Mundra route," he said.

There has been a constant demand from the industry for such trains as it saves time in moving goods and reduces haulage charge for the operator.

The Gurgaon-Mundra section will be the second route to have double-stack container service in Indian Railways.

The first double-stack train became operational in March 2006 between the 950 km long Jaipur-Pipavav route by Western Railway.

The volume of traffic will be increased once the Gurgaon-Mundra route is operational, said the official.

Railways are expected to be carrying about 34 million tonne of goods in double-stack trains in the current fiscal.