Mangaluru: In a significant step towards expanding its freight portfolio and strengthening multimodal logistics capabilities, Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) on Thursday inaugurated the first-ever container rake of polypropylene from Thokur station, marking the beginning of a new stream of containerised traffic on the Konkan Railway network.
The new traffic stream commenced with the dispatch of the first container rake carrying polypropylene from Thokur station to the Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT). Railway officials said this development is expected to boost freight movement along the Konkan corridor and provide industries in the region with an efficient and reliable logistics option.
State-of-the-art freight infrastructure at Thokur
To facilitate containerised and other freight traffic, KRCL, in collaboration with the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), has developed modern and comprehensive logistics infrastructure at Thokur station. The newly created facilities include a paved wharf with approach roads, covered warehouses, open stackyards and other essential amenities required for handling bulk and containerised cargo.
Officials said the infrastructure has been designed to meet contemporary logistics standards and to cater to the growing demand for multimodal transportation solutions. With these facilities in place, Thokur station has emerged as a well-equipped freight handling terminal capable of supporting diverse cargo requirements.
Polypropylene movement for MRPL
The polypropylene being transported through this new container service belongs to Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL). According to officials, MRPL is expected to offer, on an average, around two container rakes per month for transportation of polypropylene to the Morbi region of Gujarat, a major industrial hub for ceramic and allied industries.
The traffic will be handled by the Central Warehousing Corporation using container rakes owned by CWC. To operationalise this logistics arrangement, CWC and MRPL have entered into a formal agreement, enabling seamless coordination for storage, handling and transportation of the cargo.
Flagging off ceremony with senior officials
The first rake in this new traffic stream comprised 24 containers and was formally flagged off in the presence of senior officials from MRPL, CWC and KRCL. Those present at the event included Mundkur Shyamprasad Kamath, Managing Director, MRPL; Santosh Sinha, Managing Director, CWC; Sunil Gupta, Director (Commercial & Operations), KRCL; and Nandakumar Velayudhan Pillai, Director (Refinery), MRPL.
Also present were Devendra Kumar, Director (Finance), MRPL; Niraj Priyadarshi, Director (Finance), CWC; Deepak Prabhakar P, Executive Director (Marketing & Business Development), MRPL; Samuel Praveen Kumar, Director (Marketing & Corporate Planning), CWC; BHV Prasad, Executive Director (Projects), MRPL; and Ashutosh Srivastava, Chief Commercial Manager (Infrastructure), KRCL.
Officials highlighted that the successful flagging off of the first container rake symbolises close coordination between the railway, warehousing and refining sectors in building an integrated logistics ecosystem.
Boost to multimodal logistics and freight diversification
Railway officials said the commencement of containerised polypropylene traffic represents an important milestone for Konkan Railway, which has traditionally handled bulk commodities such as cement, iron ore and foodgrains. The addition of container traffic is expected to diversify the freight basket and improve overall revenue potential.
By leveraging the Gati Shakti framework and multimodal cargo terminals, Konkan Railway aims to provide end-to-end logistics solutions that integrate rail, road and warehousing services. The Thokur terminal is expected to play a key role in this strategy by acting as a regional logistics hub.
Benefits for industry and region
Industry sources said the new container service will help MRPL and other potential customers reduce logistics costs, improve transit times and ensure safer handling of high-value products such as polymers. Containerisation also offers better protection against damage and pilferage compared to conventional freight movement.
The development is also expected to encourage other industries in and around the region to utilise the enhanced facilities at Thokur station for storage and transportation of goods. Officials believe that the availability of modern logistics infrastructure will attract new customers and generate additional freight traffic on the Konkan Railway network.
Scope for future expansion
With the successful launch of the first container rake, Konkan Railway and CWC are optimistic about expanding containerised operations from Thokur station. Officials indicated that the terminal has the capacity to handle additional commodities and higher volumes as demand grows.
Efforts are also under way to market the facility to other public sector undertakings and private players, highlighting the advantages of rail-based container transport combined with warehousing support.
Conclusion
The inauguration of the first container rake from Thokur station marks a strategic shift for Konkan Railway towards diversified, containerised and multimodal freight operations. With strong industry participation, modern infrastructure and institutional collaboration, the initiative is expected to enhance logistics efficiency, support industrial growth and strengthen the role of railways in sustainable freight transportation.